Core Insights - The article discusses the growth and structural characteristics of China's fiscal personnel from 2004 to 2020, highlighting an increase from 52.12 million to 68.46 million, with the proportion of fiscal personnel in the resident population rising to 4.85% [1] Group 1: Growth of Fiscal Personnel - The overall scale of fiscal personnel has been continuously increasing, with a notable rise in retired personnel, which has grown from 14.68 million in 2004 to 26.87 million in 2020, adding 12.19 million [3] - The increase in fiscal personnel is attributed to longer life expectancy and a rising proportion of retirees, which places a significant burden on fiscal resources [3] Group 2: Structural Issues - The article identifies a structural mismatch in the allocation of fiscal personnel, as adjustments have lagged behind population migration trends, leading to an increase in personnel at the county level and below [1][9] - The number of non-staff fiscal personnel has increased from 2.15 million in 2004 to 4.42 million in 2018, primarily at the county level, indicating a growing reliance on external personnel due to administrative function transfers without corresponding budget or staffing adjustments [5] Group 3: Employment and Recruitment Dynamics - The recruitment of new personnel through public examinations has contributed to the increase in fiscal personnel, with some organizations experiencing a paradox of retaining older staff while hiring new ones, leading to inefficiencies [7] - The mismatch between staffing and workload in administrative agencies has resulted in a situation where many personnel are underutilized, exacerbating the fiscal burden [7] Group 4: Regional Disparities - The outflow of population from certain cities has not been matched by a reduction in fiscal personnel, leading to an increased proportion of fiscal personnel relative to the total population in those areas [9] - The need for administrative reform is emphasized, particularly in economically underdeveloped regions, to enhance the efficiency and capability of fiscal personnel [9] Group 5: Future Outlook - The growth of fiscal personnel is expected to continue in the coming years, albeit at a slower rate, with a potential decline not anticipated for at least five years unless economic conditions improve significantly [10]