Ghost Jobs

The Rise of Ghost Jobs: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

By Jannatun Nabila, Data Analyst October 06, 2024

The Rise of Ghost Jobs

In 2024, According to Statista, in the first quarter, 57 thousand employees were layoff with 43 thousand in the second quarter. (Statista Research Department, 2024)

Layoff predictions are unclear due to AI-driven automation, optimization of algorithms, AI agents’ “bots”, reducing the organization cost, organization restructuring, and better allocation of resources can make finding a job a difficult task. The more affected by layoffs were women and Latino workers. Labor statistics can be found https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

Ghost Jobs: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

In today’s increasingly digital job market, job seekers may find themselves applying to positions that seem perfect but lead nowhere. This frustrating experience is often caused by what’s known as a “ghost job.” These job listings, though seemingly legitimate, don’t result in actual hires, leaving applicants feeling disillusioned. Recently, platforms like Bloomberg have raised awareness about the growing trend of ghost jobs and their impact on the labor market. Because of the uncertainty of the economy, global conflict and disruptions in technology, companies used these techniques to increase the company profile and the stability of their stocks. Even though this is an unethical practice, companies are increasingly using misleading techniques to maintain the organization’s profile. “ 2022 revealed that 68 percent of employers had listings that were active for more than 30 days, and 10 percent of those listings were up for six months or more, with 20 percent of managers not planning to fill those positions until the next year. Another more recent survey conducted by the Business Standard found that 73 percent of more than 1,000 respondents had fallen prey to a ghost job or spam job offer. In late March, NBC News reported that there were more than 1.8 million jobs on LinkedIn that had been posted a month or more ago.” (Observer, 2024)

What is a Ghost Job?

A ghost job refers to a job listing that remains posted online even though the employer has no immediate plans to fill the role. These positions can sometimes remain open indefinitely or may have already been filled, but the company leaves the listing active. Several reasons explain why companies keep ghost jobs posted:

Talent Pooling: Companies often collect resumes for future openings, even when they aren’t actively hiring.
Maintaining an Image: Keeping job postings up gives the impression that a company is growing, helping it project a robust and expanding brand image.
HR Metrics: Some organizations track their HR department’s performance based on the number of applications received, so keeping job ads live allows them to meet internal targets.
Market Research: Companies may use ghost listings to gauge interest or salary expectations in a particular field or region.

Even though this explanation could be considered reasonable, the reality is far more insidious.

How to Avoid Applying to Ghost Jobs

To avoid applying to ghost jobs, especially when platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and others may exacerbate the issue by not enforcing accountability, there are several steps you can take:

1. Research Company Financial Health

Check financial reports: Platforms like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, and Bloomberg are excellent sources to assess a company’s financial health. They provide detailed information on financial performance, including quarterly earnings, stock performance, and overall growth trends. For public companies, these metrics are good indicators of stability and hiring capacity.
Look for recent company news: Research through reliable sources like Reuters, MarketWatch, or Pew Research to understand any significant events, acquisitions, layoffs, or shifts in the company’s strategy. If a company is struggling financially, it may post ghost jobs to maintain an image of growth despite internal challenges.

2. Check Reviews and Employee Feedback

Glassdoor and Indeed Company Reviews provide insights into the internal workings of a company. Pay attention to recent reviews that mention hiring processes. If there are mentions of long-standing job postings without actual hires, that could be a red flag of ghost jobs.
LinkedIn Connections: Networking is critical. If you can connect with someone currently employed at the company, you can get a clearer idea of whether they are actively hiring or simply maintaining a presence with ghost listings.

3. Monitor Job Posting History

Pay attention to how long a job has been posted. If a listing has been up for over 30 days without any updates or communication, it may be a ghost job. You can use LinkedIn’s job tracker or Google Alerts to stay informed about newly posted jobs and avoid stale listings.
Focus on specific job boards: Sites that emphasize verified, active listings, like com or AngelList, might have more curated job opportunities than general job boards.

4. Industry Reports and Insights

Pew Research often publishes data on industry trends and the state of the job market, which can help assess whether there is a genuine demand in the field you are applying for.
Industry-specific job boards: Certain sectors have specialized boards where jobs are more closely monitored and are less likely to be ghost postings.

5. Use Caution with Red Flags

Vague job descriptions, lack of contact information, or roles that have been posted for an extended period with no activity are all signs of potential ghost jobs
Pay Attention to Posting Dates
A listing that’s been active for an extended period (e.g., several months) without any updates or closures could be a ghost job. Employers typically hire within a reasonable timeframe if they are genuinely looking to fill a position.
To avoid applying to ghost jobs, especially when platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and others may exacerbate the issue by not enforcing accountability, there are several steps you can take:

Conclusion

Ghost jobs are a frustrating trend for job seekers. Stay proactive by researching companies, paying attention to job postings, and leveraging your network to avoid wasting time on these misleading listings.

By remaining vigilant, you can increase your chances of finding real opportunities and avoid the trap of ghost jobs.

Observer. (2024, June 18). ‘Ghost jobs’ are on the rise—And they are hurting more than just job hunters. Observer. https://observer.com/2024/06/ghost-job-rise-labor-data/

Statista Research Department. (2024, September 18). Tech layoffs worldwide 2020-2024, by quarter. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/199999/worldwide-tech-layoffs-covid-19/#:~:text=The%20tech%20industry%20had%20a,than%2043%20thousand%20tech%20employees.