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Ghost Jobs in the Job Market
As if the job-seeking process wasn’t daunting enough, there is now a rising number of phantom job postings known as “ghost jobs.” What initially began as a rarity has now turned into widespread practice.
An analysis conducted by career website ResumeUp.AI found that 27.4% of all U.S. job listings are likely ghost jobs with no intention of hiring. There are several reasons behind these deceptive listings.
- Some employers maintain job listings to project growth and momentum.
- For current employees, these postings can suggest the company is working to bring on additional help and reduce workloads.
- In other cases, however, the message may be less reassuring — signaling that workers are ultimately replaceable.
Beyond ghost job listings, companies also admit to ghosting candidates by abruptly ending communication during the hiring process. Doing so let’s employers avoid issuing a formal rejection. Unfortunately, leaving candidates without an answer can allow companies to keep them in reserve while they continue searching for stronger applicants.
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Less intentionally, employers may simply forget to remove a job listing after a position has been filled. Even when the issue comes down to oversight by a hiring manager, the result is the same: a job search process that can be increasingly frustrating for applicants.
The rise of workplace ghosting, along with the increasing use of AI in hiring, has made it harder than ever for candidates to reach an actual person. Preparing a resume and getting ready for interviews requires time and effort, and sending applications into what feels like a digital void can quickly wear down even the most motivated job seekers.
Ghost job listings may also have implications beyond the experience of individual applicants. According to NPR, policymakers — including Federal Reserve officials — monitor the ratio of job openings to unemployed workers to gauge the health of the labor market. If inactive or “ghost” postings inflate the number of available jobs, they can muddy the data used to guide economic policy.
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Ghost jobs reflect a growing disconnect between digital job boards and real hiring activity. As companies rethink recruitment strategies and job seekers grow more skeptical of listings, the trend is prompting calls for greater transparency in hiring practices.
Upcoming Job Fair
If you’re interested in an in-person hiring experience, our parent company Amaturo Sonoma Media Group (ASMG) hosts a biannual North Bay Job Fair. The next event will take place on Sept. 15. To register, visit northbayjobfair.com.
U.S. Cities with the Highest Share of “Ghost Jobs”
- Los Angeles, CA: 30.5%
- Philadelphia, PA: 30.1%
- Indianapolis, IN: 27.8%
- New York, NY: 26.7%
- San Francisco, CA: 26%
Entrepreneur.com, based on 2025 data.
Author
Rosie Padilla
Bill Meagher is a contributing editor at this fine publication. His work has appeared on ABC, CNBC, PBS, numerous daily and weekly newspapers in California, as well as several national business publications. No animals were injured in the writing of this story.
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