Why ‘Ghost Jobs’ are on the Rise and How to Spot Them

On the surface, the current job market is booming. You receive frequent alerts for new job openings. A quick scroll on job platforms brings up endless opportunities to pursue. Recruiters constantly reach out to you about roles at their companies. However, when you follow through, you hit a dead end. The job posting either turns out to be non-existent, expired, or fake. If this sounds familiar, you might have encountered the so-called ‘ghost jobs.’

‘Ghost jobs’ are simply dubious or fake job postings that, although posted by legitimate companies, aren't legitimate vacancies. Job seekers apply to these seemingly open positions and even complete interviews, only to be ghosted later or told that the job does not exist. Still, they remain advertised online for months and inexplicably never get filled.

Why do some employers post jobs they don't intend to fill? How do ‘ghost jobs’ affect the labor force?

This article examines the motivations behind posting ‘ghost jobs,’ their implications for job seekers, and tips for spotting fake job postings.

Why Do Businesses Post ‘Ghost Jobs’?

If you've encountered what appear to be suspicious or fake job postings, you are not alone. It is common  among many companies and recruiters who admit to posting ‘ghost jobs.’

Discussed below are a few common reasons why businesses leave up listings of jobs they don't plan to fill:

• Companies typically use fake job postings to gauge talent and build an email list of potential employees for their future hiring efforts. This behavior is widespread despite hiring freezes and unstable economic conditions.

• Posting ‘ghost jobs’ is a practical way to determine how effective a job posting is, for instance, whether the job description is informative and attracts the right audience pool. Employers can also gauge employee expectations regarding compensation through ‘ghost jobs.’

• Companies may post ‘ghost job’ postings to give employees and stakeholders the illusion of growth and success. This can help them amass a following on social media platforms, collect resumes, and quickly fill openings when the need arises.

• In some cases, ‘ghost jobs’ may be entirely accidental. Perhaps the company had plans to recruit for the role earlier, but the role was closed or paused due to budget constraints. Yet the listing remains active on third-party platforms and even their career page.

• Companies sometimes post fake job listings to ensure legal compliance, for instance, to give the impression of attempting to fill a role externally before moving forward with an internal hire.

• Fake job postings can also mislead overloaded employees into believing the company plans to reduce their workload by hiring additional staff.

The impact of ‘ghost jobs’ on job seekers and the overall labor market is mainly negative, no matter the motivations behind them:

• Employees who repeatedly apply to seemingly legitimate positions to no avail can become frustrated, demotivated, and insecure.

• It wastes job seekers’ time that could otherwise be spent nurturing real leads or preparing for interviews.

• Fake job postings damage the reputation of companies that engage in hiring scams and misguided practices to look viable.

• Those in positions of power may be unable to make informed economic decisions due to misrepresented labor data.

Why are ‘Ghost Jobs’ on the Rise?

Not too long ago, there was talk of younger employees accepting jobs and ghosting employers in a phenomenon widely dubbed “career catfishing.” In 2025, employers have flipped the script with ‘ghost jobs,’ albeit for distinct reasons.

However, fake job listings are by no means new. During the pandemic, many companies posted roles without real hiring intent. 

In recent times, employers may be wary about committing to new hires due to the recent layoffs and uncertain economic conditions. Therefore, ‘ghost jobs’ are on the rise.

The ease of advertising jobs on job boards and social media platforms is also partly responsible for the rise of such hiring scams. Further, more companies rely on AI and automated hiring processes to remain visible and viable in the job market, making it easier to routinely post jobs without intending to fill them.

How to Spot ‘Ghost Jobs?’

In the current generally tight labor market, where job seekers are already struggling with securing a job, the prevalence of fake job postings doesn't make the pursuit any less difficult. 

Discussed below are some useful tips to spot ‘ghost jobs’:

1. If the job isn't posted on the company’s careers page, it may be a fake or inaccurate listing. Cross-checking specific listings on the company's official platforms (career page, LinkedIn account, etc.) is necessary. Some job platforms have “verified” badges to help applicants in their job search.

2. Often, job listings remain active on third-party job boards even after the company has filled the role. If a listing has been up for nearly 2 months or more, job seekers can skip applying to it. According to a recent SHRM report, companies spent approximately 41 days in 2024 to fill an open role. You can usually track a company's up-to-date and refreshed hiring activity on their official pages. Reaching out to recruiters directly to enquire about the current status of the position can also help.

3. If a company habitually ghosts applicants, chances are former candidates have shared their experiences or raised concerns about it on online forums. Job seekers may be well-advised to comb through such platforms for insights. At the same time, keeping tabs on the company's layoff plans, current hiring efforts, etc., can help you avoid similar hiring scams. 

4. Job seekers should exercise caution if a job posting doesn't specify key details (such as the specific roles and responsibilities, location, qualifications, salary data, etc.). It may be a hiring scam to steal your personal information or money. Start by ensuring the job ad is posted by a legitimate company. Look for any obvious errors (grammatical mistakes, unprofessional communication, unsolicited requests, vague contact details, etc.) to verify the authenticity of the job ad. 

5. The well-established networking practice is often the safest way to uncover leads on active, legitimate positions. Job seekers should prefer their professional connections, friends circle, and online communities over unverified job advertisements. 

Conclusion

‘Ghost jobs’ have become a widespread and pressing issue. They mislead not only job seekers but also investors and economic decision-makers. 

Companies and recruiters must actively avoid fabricating job listings since they risk muddying job market data. At the same time, job seekers today need to be more cautious when applying to open positions lest they run into ‘ghost jobs.’ Knowing how to spot them can ensure your job search is more efficient and productive.