The Problem of Ghost Jobs in the US, UK and Germany
Ghost jobs are vacancies advertised online that do not exist or are not intended to be filled, a problem observed in the US, UK and Germany. A Greenhouse study across these countries finds up to 22% of online vacancies are listed with no intent to hire, while a separate UK study puts the figure at 34%.
Official US data shows 7.2 million vacancies in August alongside 5.1 million hires, indicating a significant gap between job postings and actual hiring.
Advocates like Eric Thompson are pushing for federal legislation in the US, called The Truth in Job Advertising & Accountability Act, which would introduce expiration dates for listings, require auditable hiring records, and impose penalties. This petition has more than 50,000 signatures. Meanwhile, New Jersey and California state legislatures are considering bans on ghost jobs.
In Canada, Ontario will require companies from 1 January to disclose whether an advertised vacancy is actively being filled. Firms with more than 25 employees must reply to candidates they have interviewed within 45 days, though there is no requirement to contact candidates not interviewed. In contrast, there is currently no legal requirement in the US or UK to respond to candidates, and there are no moves in the UK to directly tackle ghost jobs.
The reasons for ghost postings include creating a talent pool, inflating perceived growth, and collecting or selling data. These practices can mislead policymakers and distort the job market.
Job-seeker advice includes networking directly with hiring managers to verify postings and watching for red flags such as repeated postings or postings that remain open for a long time.
