More than 152,000 candidates are taking the entrance exams for the General State Administration this Saturday, May 23, one of the major national public employment calls of the year. In total, 152,149 people have been admitted to compete for 17,986 positions offered by the State Administration.
The exams are being held simultaneously in 26 provinces and mobilize a wide network of venues throughout Spain. According to data from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, the tests are taking place in more than 98 faculties and educational centers, thanks to agreements with universities and institutes.
The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, wished the applicants luck through a message published this Saturday, in which he thanked them for their effort and their "vocation for public service."
What positions are being offered in the State Administration civil service exams
The call includes positions for free entry and internal promotion for various bodies of the General State Administration. Among them are the General Auxiliary Corps, the General Administrative Corps, the Management Corps of the State Civil Administration, the Corps of Auxiliary IT Technicians, and the Management Corps of Systems and IT.
These are selection processes corresponding to the Public Employment Offer of 2025 and accumulated positions from previous exercises. The call is part of the public employment reinforcement promoted by the Government in recent years and comes a few weeks after the approval of the Public Employment Offer of 2026, which includes 27,232 positions for the General State Administration.
The Executive's objective is to strengthen staff, cover retirements, and advance in the modernization of public services, especially in areas related to digitalization, citizen services, and administrative management.
What time do the exams start
The tests begin this Saturday from 10:00 AM in the various venues enabled throughout Spain. For some bodies, several exercises are planned throughout the day, with different shifts depending on the selection process.
The organization corresponds to the National Institute of Public Administration, through the Permanent Selection Commission, the body responsible for the development and evaluation of the tests for these selection processes.
The scale of the call requires a large organizational, identification, and control device at the examination sites, with personnel responsible for guaranteeing equal conditions, preventing unauthorized devices, and managing the entry of thousands of applicants.
Who is applying for these civil service exams
The majority of admitted individuals are women. According to data released by the Ministry, 65% of applicants are women, and the largest age group is between 36 and 45 years old.
This profile reflects one of the most common characteristics of civil service exams for the General State Administration: they not only attract young people seeking their first stable job but also individuals with previous work experience who aspire to change sectors, improve their conditions, or obtain a permanent position.
The call once again confirms the appeal of public employment in Spain, especially in a context marked by the search for job stability, guaranteed salaries, career progression, and work-life balance.
Where the tests are held
The exams are held in 26 provinces, with venues distributed in universities and educational centers. The organization has enabled more than 98 spaces to accommodate the more than 152,000 applicants called.
Madrid concentrates the largest number of applicants, with more than 44,000 candidates. Andalusia also registers very high participation, with more than 32,000 people summoned in several provinces. Seville is one of the main national venues, second only to Madrid in terms of applicant volume.
Overall, the day represents one of the largest mobilizations of applicants of the year and turns the enabled venues into key points for thousands of families and applicants who have spent months preparing for the tests.
Why this call is relevant
The call is relevant for three reasons. The first is the volume: more than 152,000 people for almost 18,000 positions. The second is the type of employment: positions in the General State Administration, with a presence in administrative services, public management, and IT. The third is the timing: it comes amid a renewal of public staff and with the Government advocating for the need to strengthen state services.
Furthermore, these competitive examinations have a strong social component. For many applicants, it is not just about passing an exam, but about achieving job stability, improving income, accessing a public career, or changing their professional life.
All the keys to the State competitive examinations
- The call brings together 152,149 applicants for 17,986 positions in the General State Administration. The exams are held this Saturday, May 23, in 26 provinces and in more than 98 faculties and educational centers.
- The bodies called include administrative assistants, administrative staff, civil management, IT auxiliary technicians, and systems and IT management.
- The majority of applicants are women, and the largest age group is between 36 and 45 years old. The tests are developed under the organization of the INAP and the Permanent Selection Commission.
- With this data, the call is positioned as one of the major events in public employment in Spain.