Why employers are posting 'ghost jobs' - What in the World, BBC World Service

Ghost Jobs: Vacancies With No Intention to Hire

“Ghost jobs” are vacancies posted without an employer intending to hire for them. Their prevalence is difficult to measure, and not every unfilled listing is a ghost job: budgets or staffing plans may change. Still, surveys cited in the report suggest the practice is widespread. A 2024 survey estimated that 22–40% of online job postings were ghost jobs. Other surveys found that many companies admitted to posting roles without plans to hire, and that many job seekers had encountered listings they suspected were fake.

Why Employers Post Them

Employers may use these listings to build a pool of potential candidates for future hiring or to make a company appear to be growing. Recruiters and campaigners also worry that some employers may use applications to collect personal data, although the report does not establish that this happens in every case. Many countries have laws limiting how companies should handle applicants’ data, but it can be unclear whether those rules are being followed.

Effects on Job Seekers and Employment Data

For job seekers, ghost listings can mean hours spent applying without a response, adding to the frustration and uncertainty of an already difficult job market.

They may also distort employment figures. If listings make hiring look stronger than it is, governments could base policy on an inaccurate picture.

Transparency Measures

Some jurisdictions are responding with transparency measures. In Ontario, legislation introduced in January requires employers to clarify whether a posting is for an actual vacancy or a talent-pool exercise. Employers must also tell interviewed candidates within 45 days whether they were successful.

Lawmakers in California and New Jersey are also working on measures. However, enforcement may be difficult and could depend on job seekers reporting suspected ghost postings.

Signs to Watch For

Career researcher Patricia Parnett recommends treating several signs together as reasons for caution:

• An old listing that appears newly reposted or promoted
• A vague or overloaded job description
• Missing details about the team or role
• Strongly negative candidate reviews
• An unclear hiring process or timeline

Applicants can check the employer’s official careers site and ask interviewers why the role is open and when they expect to fill it. No single sign proves that a job is fake.

Presenters and Contributors

• Hannah Gelbart — presenter
• Megan Lawton — BBC business reporter
• Sundus — job seeker in Seattle’s tech sector
• Patricia Parnett — researcher on ghost jobs, based in Germany