Civil Servants
Economy
Xinjiang’s rising job market: A blessing and a burden?
In some sectors, Xinjiang has generally outpaced the national average, but such positive indicators may not align with the actual employment experiences for some groups, especially the minority groups. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang speaks with youths from Xinjiang to find out more.
Li Kang
01 Apr 2026
Society
‘I don’t want to work; I want to join the party’: China’s viral cry for stability
On Douyin, millions joke about quitting work to “serve the people”. But the humour masks real exhaustion — and a growing belief that life inside the system is safer than life outside it. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks into this trend.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
04 Nov 2025
Society
Forbidden banquet: China’s crackdown on official dining
To rectify civil servants’ extravagant dining habits, the Chinese government has implemented a series of strict regulations and guidelines for dining out. However, these regulations have caused much anxiety and confusion in the public sector, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
08 Jul 2025
Technology
Will robots replace China’s civil servants?
As AI capabilities advance, concerns about how AI will change the job landscape have intensified. In China, workers in the civil service and media industries have expressed fears that their jobs will be replaced by AI. How valid are these fears and concerns? Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk finds out.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
07 Mar 2025
Society
China’s ‘Snail Awards’: Civil servants shamed for poor performance
Much to the dismay of local governments, Chinese civil servants’ attitudes towards work have become as sluggish as the state of China’s economy. In an attempt to correct these attitudes, local governments have introduced the “Snail Awards”. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk tells us more.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
05 Mar 2025
Economy
China’s ‘secret’ civil servant pay hike: What’s behind it?
While China’s civil servants recently got a salary hike, it seems that the only way for people to talk about it is in code. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong looks at the shroud of secrecy over the move.
Han Yong Hong
03 Jan 2025
Economy
Why don’t the Chinese spend?
Will measures like salary increases and vouchers be able to boost domestic consumption and a sluggish Chinese economy in 2025? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Sim Tze Wei tells us what observers have to say about the issue and evaluates the effectiveness of government measures.
Sim Tze Wei
03 Jan 2025
Society
Record-breaking number of graduates face bleak job market in China
With another record year for the number of graduates in China, Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Wong Siew Fong notes that the employment situation appears bleaker than ever. Those seeking to join the civil service are facing even tougher competition as government agencies cut down on hiring, while the private sector may not be the most attractive option for them.
Wong Siew Fong
27 Mar 2024
Society
Regular phone calls and cash incentives: China goes the extra mile to encourage childbirth
Local governments in Chinese cities are taking extra measures to encourage couples to marry early and have children. However, given the youth's shifting values and society's tolerance for singlehood, these measures are falling short. Meanwhile, netizens are lamenting that government policies should not be coercive or objectify women.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
12 Sep 2023
Society
Unemployment woes abound even for graduates from China's top schools
Even with a bachelor's or master's degree from top universities in China, graduates are facing a tough job market. While some are choosing to remain unemployed in hopes of better opportunities, others are exhausting all avenues to make a living, from taking the civil service examination to becoming "full-time children". Lianhe Zaobao journalists Li Kang and Zhu Yuxuan look into the issue.
Li Kang, Zhu Yuxuan
06 Sep 2023
Society
Chinese society's obsession with becoming a civil servant
How far would one go to get a job in the civil service? In China, young people are under enormous pressure if they choose to take the civil service exam, pouring everything into it - some tragic cases have ensued. Zaobao's China Desk explores the obsession with getting into the civil service.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
19 Apr 2023