Ghost Jobs

40% of companies posted a fake job listing this year (Source) 3 in 10 companies currently have active fake listings (Source) 70% of hiring managers believe posting fake jobs is morally acceptable (Source) 43% of businesses wanted to give the impression their company was growing (Source) 1 in 5 hiring managers had no plans to fill the posted job anytime soon (

A ghost job is a job posting where the employer has no immediate intention of filling the role.

Pandemic-Era Hiring Shifts (2020-2022) – Many companies over-hired during periods of rapid economic recovery, then scaled back, leaving job listings up without real hiring intent.   The Tech Layoff Cycle (2023-Present) – Mass layoffs, particularly in tech, created uncertainty, leading some businesses to post jobs as a safety net while delaying actual hires.   AI and Automated Job Listings – Many companies now use software that reposts jobs automatically to keep an active hiring presence, even if there are no open positions.   Economic Uncertainty & Caution (2024-2025) – With concerns about inflation and recession risks, companies are more cautious about committing to hires but still want access to strong talent pools.

1,641 hiring managers

Future needs: Some companies want to get ahead of a growth curve, like upcoming expansion plans. They may not be ready to hire, but collect applications in advance so they can hit the ground running when they’re indeed ready. Constant alertness: Some companies want to be on constant alert for talent even if they lack critical openings – especially for roles that need quick replacements amid vacancies (e.g., sales roles). Market insights: Some companies may use ghost job listings to collect direct market research data on the size of candidate pools, skills availability, and salary expectations for new roles. Human oversight: Ghost jobs are sometimes unintentional and happen when a company simply forgets to remove job postings even after the roles in question have been filled. Back-up plan: HR may purposefully keep a job listing active for a few weeks or months even after the company has employed someone, just in case the new hire doesn’t work out.

One widely cited survey of 649 hiring managers