Three districts in China’s southern metropolis of Shenzhen have quietly extended the maximum age limits for some of its government job openings, in a rare move after the landmark decision earlier this month to delay the national retirement ages.

The Longgang, Pingshan and Guangming districts last week set the maximum age for applicants with an undergraduate degree to 40 for 189 openings, five years older than the general standard for government jobs.

The age limit for 56 out of 82 roles – from urban planning to epidemic control – advertised by Longgang district have also been extended to 45 for applicants who have a doctoral degree or a professional title, according to an official announcement on Thursday.

Under the long-awaited move, the retirement age for all men will be increased from 60 to 63, while female office workers will see their working life eventually extended from 55 to 58.