More jobs on offer for fresh grads in 2021

The administration said nearly 60 percent of new government jobs for 2021 are reserved for fresh graduates, with most positions at the city or lower levels exclusively open to applicants who will graduate next year.

Over 8,300 jobs are located in western provinces or remote and less-developed regions. Prospective applicants for such positions do not have to meet as many requirements related to their areas of study and work experience.

In addition, more than 2,300 new jobs have been added for college graduates looking to become village officials and veterans with at least five years of military service who are college graduates.

Zhu Lijia, a professor at the National Academy of Governance, told China News Service that grassroots positions have been highlighted in civil service exams in recent years in an attempt to tackle the shortage of well-educated government workers in remote regions with limited resources and harsh environments.

"More talent is needed to improve public services and governance at the grassroots level," he said. "So more young college graduates are encouraged to make contributions by bringing knowledge and advanced ideas to the front line."