The number of candidates registering for Pakistan’s Central Superior Services (CSS) examination has fallen by nearly 48 percent over the past four years, according to official data from the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), highlighting a sharp decline in interest in the country’s most prestigious civil service recruitment process.

FPSC statistics show that CSS registrations dropped from 35,059 in 2022 to 18,139 in 2025. The number of candidates who actually sat the examination also declined from 20,262 to 12,792 during the same period. Despite the fall in applicants, the number of successful candidates remained limited, decreasing from 239 in 2022 to just 170 in 2025.

The data shows that only 0.94 percent of registered CSS candidates and 1.33 percent of those who took the examination were ultimately recommended for appointments in 2025. In comparison, the corresponding figures in 2022 were 0.68 percent and 1.81 percent, respectively.

A similar trend was observed in the FPSC’s general recruitment process for federal government jobs. Registrations peaked at 436,757 in 2023 before falling by more than 55 percent to 196,193 in 2025. The number of candidates appearing in recruitment examinations also declined sharply, from 199,234 in 2023 to 80,633 in 2025.

Despite the drop in applications, recruitment remained highly competitive. In 2025, only 3,005 candidates were recommended for appointment out of 196,193 registered applicants. By comparison, more than 436,000 candidates registered in 2023, but only 1,436 were recommended.

The figures also highlight a persistent gap between registration and examination attendance, although participation rates have improved. Around 45 percent of registered CSS candidates appeared for the examination in 2023, rising to approximately 71 percent in 2025.

In general recruitment, attendance increased from about 32 percent in 2022 to 41 percent in 2025, though a majority of registered applicants still did not sit for the examinations.

Overall, the data suggests that while fewer people are applying for federal government jobs, competition for available positions remains intense.