More jobs on offer for fresh grads in 2021

Wang Yaojun, a master's graduate from Lanzhou University in Gansu province, applied for an entry-level position at Lanzhou New Area's taxation bureau.

"To become a law enforcement officer sounds demanding, but I think it is in grassroots institutions can we learn the reality of people's lives, and I can take full advantage of what I have learned at the university," he told China Youth Daily.

Wang Jian, a researcher at Offcn, which trains candidates for the exam, said government jobs are highly prized this year because disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic dampened the employment market.

"Meanwhile, young people in China have grown up in more favorable environments and have become more confident," he said. "So when hunting for jobs, they focus on careers that can help build self-worth."