Prevalence and Impacts of Ghost Job Advertisements in the US, UK, and Germany
Ghost jobs refer to job vacancies advertised online that either do not exist or have no real intention of hiring. This issue has been reported across the US, UK, and Germany. According to a study by Greenhouse, up to 22% of online job ads across these countries had no genuine hiring intent, with UK-specific research indicating that as much as 34% of online vacancies are not real.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights a discrepancy, showing 7.2 million vacancies in August compared to only 5.1 million hires. Experts explain that ghost postings may be used to create a talent pool, inflate perceived growth signals, or collect and sell data, rather than to fill positions immediately.
The consequences of ghost jobs include distorted job market data that can misinform policymakers and negative effects on job seekers’ confidence and mental health. Specialists recommend networking with hiring managers and being cautious of red flags such as repeated or long-running postings.
In response to these issues, Eric Thompson is advocating for The Truth in Job Advertising & Accountability Act. This proposed legislation aims to require listing expirations, maintain auditable records, and impose penalties for improper postings. The petition supporting this act has surpassed 50,000 signatures.
Moreover, Ontario, Canada, will introduce new rules from January 1 requiring employers to disclose whether a vacancy is actively being filled, and organizations with more than 25 employees must respond to interviewed candidates within 45 days. Currently, there are no general legal requirements in the U.S., U.K., or Canada for employers to reply to all candidates, and no measures have yet been proposed in the UK to address ghost jobs or recruitment ghosting.
