China is raising the maximum hiring age for some civil service positions from 35 to 43 amid rampant age discrimination in the job market that has left many older workers complaining of a “curse of 35”.
The upper age limit for candidates in next year’s national-level civil service examinations has been increased to 43 for fresh master’s and doctoral graduates, according to a recruitment plan published by China’s central government and affiliated institutions on Tuesday.
The age requirement for all other candidates for central government positions has also been relaxed slightly, with the cap raised from 35 to 38, according to the plan.
The change – which follows similar adjustments made by some local governments – came amid a tough labour market that has sent competition for secure state sector jobs soaring, fuelling growing public calls to eliminate the rigid age barrier in government hiring.
It also followed China’s decision to gradually raise the retirement age for most people by three years and for some women by five years as part of an effort to address the country’s rapid population ageing.
In China’s southwestern Sichuan province, the city of Suining raised the age limit for civil service job applicants to 38 for bachelor’s degree holders and 43 for postgraduate degree holders earlier this year. Veterans are also allowed a two-year extension beyond those limits.
Other cities in the region have adopted similar rules. Meishan and Leshan extended their age caps to 38 and 43 for bachelor’s and postgraduate degree holders, respectively, while Ya’an raised the limit to as high as 40.
And in eastern China, Shanghai and Jiangsu province also raised their age limits for some civil service jobs from 35 to 38 in August.
Age discrimination in the job market has become the subject of heated discussion in China over recent years, with many workers complaining of a “curse of 35” – where jobseekers struggle to secure work after turning 35.
The phenomenon is not only caused by age limits for job candidates in the state sector, but also by cutthroat practices in the private sector. In several white-collar industries, workers say an “up or out” culture similar to that found in Silicon Valley prevails, with employees often losing their jobs after hitting their mid-30s.
Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform think tank, said the government’s move was designed to reduce age discrimination across the economy, with the central authorities aiming to lead by example and encourage the private sector to follow suit.
“Age discrimination in China is pervasive – it exists in everything from hiring flight attendants to restaurant servers,” he said. “Government departments and state-owned enterprises should take the lead in addressing it.”
Peng added that the change would also allow the civil service to attract more skilled professionals, as China’s public sector has a growing need for high-calibre candidates with strong academic backgrounds, professional experience and international exposure.
“Many people now finish postgraduate or doctoral studies only in their early 30s,” he said. “That longer education cycle has come into clear conflict with the relatively low age limits for government jobs.”
“There are no such stringent age restrictions for civil service exams in most other countries,” he added. “Easing the age cap is also part of China’s effort to internationalise and attract global talent.”
In the United States, except for certain positions like law enforcement officers or air traffic controllers, which typically have a maximum entry age between 34 and 37, most federal jobs have no specific age limit for applicants.
Similarly, the European Union imposes no upper age restriction for public sector recruitment.
Controversies over age discrimination in the job market frequently erupt in China. In August, domestic media reported that nearly 80 per cent of job openings at the well-known retail chain Pangdonglai were limited to candidates under 30 or with a bachelor’s degree.
Earlier this year, state broadcaster CCTV also reported several cases of age bias in recruitment – including a sanitation worker position in Guangzhou restricted to applicants under 35, a civil service role in Changsha open only to PhD graduates under 28, and a Shenzhen bubble tea chain that refused to hire anyone over 25.
Currently, there is no specific law prohibiting age discrimination in China. However, during this year’s “two sessions” – the annual gatherings of China’s top legislative and consultative bodies – many delegates and advisers called for stronger measures to tackle the issue, including explicitly banning age-based discrimination in Chinese labour law. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
