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Civil service recruitment now follows a single path: applying for a published post, then taking the general aptitude test.
The test can be booked throughout the year, a pass remains valid for one year, and two attempts are allowed before a one-year wait.
The State has record staffing levels, but 1,741.6 reinforcement posts remain vacant, mainly in education.
For years, becoming a civil servant in Luxembourg meant passing a competitive exam before even knowing whether a position would be available. Since 15 September 2026, that is no longer the case: the reform of civil service recruitment in Luxembourg reverses the order of the steps and promises faster procedures.
Here is what changes for candidates, which statuses are concerned and the context in which this reform comes.
Adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on 8 July, the reform came into force on 15 September. Until now, candidates for civil servant careers had to pass the general aptitude test without knowing whether they would then be hired, whereas candidates for a State employee post could respond directly to a job offer, Paperjam points out. That difference disappears: all candidates apply for a job, then take the test as part of their application.
The timetable is also more flexible. The test is no longer held in two annual sessions: it can be booked on any working day, which should shorten waiting times, explains Les Frontaliers. State job offers are published on GovJobs, while many municipalities advertise theirs on their own websites, in the press or on recruitment platforms.
According to Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Civil Service, the reform allows the civil service to strengthen "its capacity to identify and recruit the talent it needs", according to the ministry's press release published on 9 July.
A pass remains valid for one year, and candidates have two attempts before having to wait a year after a double failure. People who passed the test before the reform keep the benefit of their result. Candidates for a civil servant post must also take a special test tailored to the position, organised by the recruiting administration.
The check of knowledge of the three administrative languages, Luxembourgish, French and German, takes place at the end of the procedure. It can now be booked online and taken either at the Centre for Personnel Management and State Organisation (CGPO) or remotely, according to Paperjam and Les Frontaliers.
Civil servants are recruited by competitive examination, State employees by contract, in principle via the CGPO, and State workers directly by the administrations. Nationality of a European Union Member State is required for civil servants and employees, and Luxembourg nationality for posts involving the exercise of public authority.
The State has never had so many staff: 38,918 people (35,905 full-time equivalents) at the end of 2025, compared with 32,842 at the end of 2021, an increase of around 6,100 in four years, according to a parliamentary answer reported by Paperjam. Education remains the largest public employer with 19,170 staff, ahead of general administration (13,122), the police force (4,603) and justice (2,041).
These staffing levels do not hide the difficulties. Of the reinforcement posts created between 2021 and 2025, 292 are still vacant, including 138 at the Ministry of National Education. In early June 2026, the State had 1,741.6 vacant reinforcement posts, a figure that includes new posts created in 2026 but not replacements for departures. Education accounts for 750.9 vacant full-time equivalents, ahead of Home Affairs (184) and Finance (165.25).
The government explains that many posts should be filled in the second half of 2026, particularly in teaching and the police, but acknowledges a labour shortage that also affects the State, especially for experienced and highly qualified profiles. This finding echoes that of the private sector, as detailed in our article on job vacancies in Luxembourg.
The new process removes a major uncertainty for candidates: you now know which post you are taking the test for. What remains is to keep an eye on job offers, prepare for the language test and take into account the one-year validity of results, which allows you to retake the test without starting from scratch. Our guide to using ADEM can help structure this search.
For the State, the challenge will be to turn this simplification into actual hires, with more than 1,700 reinforcement posts still waiting to be filled.
Do you still need to pass the competitive exam before applying?
No. Since 15 September 2026, you must first apply for a published post, then take the general aptitude test as part of the application, whatever the status sought.
How long does a pass in the general aptitude test remain valid?
One year. Candidates have two attempts, then must wait a year after a double failure. Those who passed before the reform keep the benefit of their result.
Where can you find State job offers?
On the GovJobs portal, which also provides information on registration. Many municipalities also publish their offers on their own websites or in the press.
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