The crackdown on corruption is also forcing public servants to abandon the “iron rice bowl” of a civil service job for the greater risks, but higher rewards, of private enterprise.

The Beijing-based Zhaopin job site says thousands of government officials submitted their resumés. The labour market is definitely becoming more mobile in China, but one theory is that the shift from the civil service is because the anti-corruption campaign has eaten away at the bonuses and perks, and even the job security, of working for the government.

Zhaopin said the number was up 30 per cent on the previous year and public servants are now top of the list of jobseekers.

The officials are looking for jobs at property developers, financial institutions and internet-related firms.

The position of bureaucrat is a lofty one in traditional Chinese society, and there is an average of 87 applications for each position. In 2010, 1.6 million people competed for just 16,000 jobs, but the number is falling.

The corruption crackdown means officials are now forced to disclose their salaries, and there have also been wage cuts at senior level.