Ghost Jobs: The Reality Behind Many Online Vacancies
Ghost jobs are vacancies advertised that do not exist or are not intended to be filled, a phenomenon observed in both the US and the UK. Studies show a high prevalence, with up to 22% of online jobs in the US, UK, and Germany being ghost jobs, and one UK study reporting 34%. US data from August revealed 7.2 million vacancies but only 5.1 million hires, highlighting a gap between job postings and actual hiring.
In response to this issue, US advocate Eric Thompson is pushing federal legislation called The Truth in Job Advertising & Accountability Act. This act would require job listings to have expiry dates, maintain auditable records, and enforce penalties for non-compliance. A petition for the act has already gathered over 50,000 signatures. In Ontario, Canada, new rules effective from January 1 will require employers to disclose whether a vacancy is actively being filled and mandate responses to interviewed applicants within 45 days for firms with more than 25 employees, though there is no obligation to contact those not interviewed.
Currently, the UK has no legal requirement to reply to candidates and no announced plans to address ghost jobs or recruitment "ghosting." Reasons employers post ghost jobs include building a talent pool, inflating growth numbers, or collecting data. Some post jobs not because they want immediate hires but to misrepresent market conditions. This practice impacts job seekers by reducing their confidence and causing mental health strain. Job seekers and coaches have reported experiences of being ghosted after applying or offering interview dates.
To identify genuine openings, job seekers are advised to network directly with hiring managers and be vigilant for red flags such as repeated job postings or listings that remain open for unusually long periods.
