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0Erinome:Hello everyone! Welcome to our podcast. Today, let’s talk about a hot topic in China recently—the age limit for the national civil service exam has been raised to 38. Enceladus, have you heard about this?
Enceladus:Oh yes! I saw the news last week. Wow, that’s a big change, right? Before, it was 35, right?
Erinome:Exactly! The 2026 national civil service exam公告 (gonggao, announcement) says now people under 38 can apply. Even master’s or PhD graduates can go up to 43. That’s 3 years more than before!
Enceladus:Wait, did this happen suddenly? Or did some places try it first?
Erinome:Good question! Some cities started earlier. Like Shanghai, in August 2025, they let people under 38 apply for law enforcement jobs. Then Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi… more and more provinces followed. Now the national exam made it official.
Enceladus:Why change the age limit? Is there a big reason?
Erinome:Um, the government said it’s to match the “delayed retirement” policy. You know, China is getting older, and the average age of workers is already 39.72. If they still used 35 as the limit, many experienced people couldn’t join.
Enceladus:Oh right! 35-38 year olds often have work stress, like company layoffs or industry problems. Now they get another chance for a “stable job”, like a “铁饭碗” (tie fanwan, iron rice bowl). That must help their anxiety, right?
Erinome:Yes! Like Jason, a 35-year-old guy from Suzhou. He worked in an industry that’s going down. He said when he was young, he didn’t care about “stable jobs”, but after seeing industry动荡 (dongdang, ups and downs), now he just wants stability.
Enceladus:Sad, but I get it. Stable jobs are important for families. But wait, does this mean more competition for young people?
Erinome:Hmm, maybe. The news says the number of jobs this year is 38,100, which is 2,000 less than last year. So more people applying, fewer jobs… young students might feel more “内卷” (neijuan, involution), you know?
Enceladus:Oh no! That’s tough. What about the older applicants? Is it easy for them to study for the exam?
Erinome:Not really. Like L from Henan, born in 1989. He tried last year but didn’t pass. He said the exam has so many questions, and he’s slower than young people. Also, he has a family—needs to work, take care of kids… hard to find time to study.
Enceladus:Wow, that’s a lot of pressure. So even with the age limit up, it’s not easy for them?
Erinome:Right. Some also worry about after getting the job. A 35-year-old new worker might be at the same level as a 25-year-old who’s worked 10 years. That could make them feel bad, you know?
Enceladus:But maybe their experience helps? The news said older workers are good at talking to people, solving problems. Like a 36-year-old who handled neighbor fights with his life experience.
Erinome:Yes! That’s a plus. The policy wants to focus on “ability” more than age. That’s a good direction, right?
Enceladus:I think so. It breaks the “35-year-old barrier” in the job market. Maybe companies will follow, too? Less age discrimination.
Erinome:Hope so! But some people say it’s just a small change. The real problem is making sure “ability matters most”, not just age numbers.
Enceladus:True. So, do you think this policy is good overall?
Erinome:For people over 35, it’s a light of hope. For society, it uses more experienced people. But we need to fix the competition and career development problems later.
Enceladus:Agreed. Well, it’s a big step. Let’s see how it goes.
Erinome:Okay, that’s it for today. Thanks for listening! Let’s talk again next time. Bye!
Enceladus:Bye!
