Fewer grads taking test for govt jobs

Stricter assessments and more career options cited as reasons

BEIJING - The number of people successfully applying to take the national civil servant examination is expected to fall for a second straight year, although competition for a government job remains fierce.

The number of qualified applicants who registered to take the exam next year was 1.23 million as of late Monday, the last day to apply, the State Administration of Civil Service said.