The Prevalence and Impact of Ghost Jobs in the UK, US, and Canada
Ghost jobs, or vacancies advertised without the real intent to hire or that are unavailable, are a significant issue in the job market. A UK study found that 34% of job ads are ghost jobs, while a global Greenhouse study reported up to 22%.
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data showed 7.2 million vacancies in August but only 5.1 million actual hires, illustrating a gap consistent with ghost job postings. In response, Eric Thompson is leading a US effort to ban fake job adverts by proposing The Truth in Job Advertising & Accountability Act, which would require expiry dates, auditable records, and penalties for non-compliance. This initiative has gathered over 50,000 petition signatures.
Ontario, Canada, has introduced regulations effective from 1 January, mandating that firms disclose whether an advertised vacancy is actively being filled. Additionally, firms with more than 25 employees must respond to interviewed applicants within 45 days. In contrast, the UK currently has no legal requirement to reply to candidates, where ghosting remains common.
Legislatures in New Jersey and California are also considering bans on ghost jobs.
Reasons for ghost postings include creating a talent pool, inflating growth metrics, or collecting and selling data. These practices distort policy data and harm jobseekers' confidence and mental health. Jobseekers are advised to network with hiring managers and watch for red flags such as repeated postings or vacancies that have been open for an unusually long time.
