The Reality and Impact of Ghost Jobs in the Job Market
Ghost jobs refer to vacancies that are advertised but do not exist or have no real intention to hire. Studies show a high prevalence of ghost jobs, with around 34% of job ads in the UK and up to 22% across the US, UK, and Germany according to Greenhouse data. In August, the US reported 7.2 million vacancies but only 5.1 million people were hired, highlighting a significant mismatch.
In the US, Eric Thompson supports The Truth in Job Advertising & Accountability Act, which aims to require expiry dates on listings, maintain auditable records, and impose penalties on misleading advertisements. This bill has drawn more than 50,000 petition signatures. Meanwhile, Ontario, Canada will enforce transparency from January 1, mandating employers to disclose whether vacancies are actively being filled and requiring companies with over 25 employees to respond to interviewees within 45 days to combat ghosting.
The UK currently has no legal requirements for employers to reply to candidates and no focused government actions addressing ghost jobs or recruitment ghosting. Reasons for ghost job postings include building talent pools, inflating company growth signals, or collecting and selling candidate data. Sometimes, jobs are posted simply to avoid making immediate hires.
These ghost postings distort labor market data and policymaking, negatively affecting jobseekers’ confidence and mental health. They also raise challenges in enforcement and monitoring. Job seekers are advised to network directly with hiring managers and remain vigilant for red flags such as repeatedly posted or long-standing vacancies.
