The photo, taken on Nov. 29, shows people entering into the examination room of the National Public Servant Exam in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The number of people taking the National Public Servant Exam has shrunk for the second year in a row.

The latest numbers show that some 930 thousand people took the exam, which was held on Sunday. That represents a 60 thousand decrease on last year's figure.

Wang Yukai, vice-president of the Chinese Society of Administrative Reform, says the downturn in the number of people enrolling is a sign of the times.

"I think the decrease has a lot to do with the change in the general environment in China. Right now, our government is pushing students towards self-employment and the innovation sector, which is appealing to young graduates."

But the exam is still considered one of the most competitive tests in the country as only one out of every 33 is expected to get a government job this year.

Over 27-thousand positions in national-level government bodies are available this coming year.

Civil servant jobs are favored by many Chinese as they offer a relatively stable career, although the popularity of government posts has declined in recent years.