THERE was a 20 percent drop in the number of Shanghai candidates sitting the national civil service exam yesterday compared to last year.

Around 24,000 examinees from the city took the exam at 29 locations, compared to some 30,000 at 39 venues last year, data from the application process revealed.

A job with Shanghai Customs remains the most popular choice among candidates nationwide, with 5,662 people applying for just seven jobs in one department.