Job seekers face a frustrating and growing challenge: many job postings are fake, expired, or never meant to be filled. These deceptive listings—known as ghost jobs—not only waste valuable time and resources, but also erode trust in the hiring process and distort labor market data. Recent research reveals that the problem is even more pervasive than previously believed.
Ghost Job Prevalence: Key Statistics
- A January 2025 Clarify Capital study found nearly 1 in 3 employers admit to posting job listings with no intention of hiring.
- Greenhouse, a major hiring platform, reported that 18–22% of online job ads are fake or unfilled, with 70% of clients posting at least one ghost job in Q2 2024.
- A Fast Company–sponsored recruiter survey revealed that 81% of recruiters have posted ghost jobs, and over one-third said up to 25% of their active listings are fake.
- A ResumeBuilder.com survey found 40% of companies posted a fake job in the past year, and 30% had one or more ghost listings live at the time.
Why Do Companies Post Ghost Jobs?
Employers and recruiters may have various motivations for maintaining ghost listings:
- Pipeline Building: Collect resumes in case future roles open.
- Perception of Growth: Signal company vitality and expansion.
- Internal Pressure: Motivate existing staff by implying their roles are replaceable.
- Market Research: Assess candidate interest, salary expectations, or demand trends.
What It Means for Job Seekers
- Wasted Effort and Disappointment: Candidates often tailor resumes, write cover letters, and prepare for interviews—only to find out the job was never real or already filled.
- Burnout and Trust Loss: Repeated exposure to ghost jobs contributes to job search fatigue, emotional burnout, and declining confidence in the process.
- Distorted Market Signals: Fake listings inflate perceived opportunity levels, misleading job seekers and affecting decisions about relocation, education, or career shifts.
Impact on Specialized Industries
In highly specialized sectors like engineering, architecture, construction, and manufacturing, ghost jobs cause even greater disruption. Roles often require licenses or niche technical skills—meaning candidates spend more time and resources preparing. According to Greenhouse, the construction industry showed ghost job rates as high as 38%.
How DAVRON Adds Value
At DAVRON, we understand the toll ghost listings take on candidates and hiring integrity. As a trusted recruitment agency specializing in technical fields, we prioritize:
- Active Vetting: We only promote positions that have confirmed hiring needs and realistic timelines.
- Employer Transparency: We work directly with hiring managers to verify budget approval and open roles.
- Communication Clarity: We keep candidates informed every step of the way—no ghosting.
- Candidate Advocacy: We go beyond job boards to ensure every candidate receives personal guidance and real opportunities.
How to Spot & Avoid Ghost Jobs
Follow this checklist to protect yourself from wasting time:
- Look for Posting Date and History
Listings that stay online for weeks or months without updates—especially if reposted frequently—are likely inactive. Real opportunities usually follow a clear timeline from post to fill. - Avoid Ads with Broad, Vague Descriptions
If a posting doesn’t specify key responsibilities or qualifications, it could be generic bait. Legitimate roles clearly outline expectations, required experience, and reporting structure. - Cross-Check on the Company’s Official Careers Page
If a role doesn’t appear on the employer’s site, it may be outdated or fabricated. Some companies don’t update their careers page often—so if you’re unsure, try reaching out via LinkedIn or email. - Reach Out to Verify Listings
Don’t hesitate to message hiring managers or HR on LinkedIn. If the job is real, someone will usually confirm it. Silence or evasiveness may signal that the role isn’t truly open. - Be Wary of Duplicate Listings
If the same job appears under slightly different titles or locations, it could be a ghost listing used to collect resumes or inflate visibility. Real hiring campaigns are typically streamlined.
Emerging Legislation & Ethical Recruiting Frameworks
There is growing momentum in both government and industry to curb ghost job practices:
- Federal Proposal: The 2025 Truth in Job Advertising and Accountability Act (TJAAA) would require employers to disclose intent to hire, salary bands, and deadlines for removing stale posts. It would grant enforcement power to the Department of Labor and FTC, and even provide legal recourse for affected job seekers.
- State Legislation:
- New Jersey and California have introduced bills requiring that postings specify if the role is actively open and remove filled positions within specific timeframes.
- Kentucky’s legislation mandates clear labeling for speculative roles.
- Industry Response: Platforms like LinkedIn and Greenhouse now offer “verified job” badges, while third-party ethical recruiting networks (like Truth in Job Ads) are forming new standards to encourage clarity, compliance, and fairness in talent acquisition.
Final Takeaway
Ghost jobs are no longer a rare nuisance—they now affect 1 in 5 to 1 in 3 listings across platforms and industries. As frustration grows, the need for ethical hiring and transparency is urgent. At DAVRON, we’re committed to restoring confidence in recruitment—connecting real candidates to real jobs in engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and construction.
Sources
- Clarify Capital. “Ghost Jobs in 2025: The Listings That Lead Nowhere.”
https://www.salesguybob.com/blogs/ghost-jobs-in-2025-the-listings-that-lead-nowhere - Gizmodo. “1 in 5 Online Job Postings Are Either Fake or Never Filled.”
https://gizmodo.com/1-in-5-online-job-postings-are-either-fake-or-never-filled-study-finds-2000549706 - ResumeBuilder.com. “3 in 10 Companies Currently Have Fake Job Posting Listed.”
https://www.resumebuilder.com/3-in-10-companies-currently-have-fake-job-posting-listed - Fast Company. “3 Ways to Spot a Ghost Job Listing.”
https://www.fastcompany.com/91183465/3-ways-to-spot-a-ghost-job-listing - Observer. “The Rise of Ghost Jobs Is Wrecking Labor Data—and Workers’ Trust.”
https://observer.com/2024/06/ghost-job-rise-labor-data - Newsweek. “Why ‘Ghost Jobs’ Are a Bad Idea.”
https://www.newsweek.com/ghost-jobs-bad-idea-employment-1929617 - IAWP. “Unveiling the Ghost Job Epidemic.”
https://iawponline.org/news/unveiling-the-ghost-job-epidemic-what-workforce-development-professionals-need-to-know - IssueWire. “New Federal Legislation Proposed to End Ghost Jobs.”
https://www.issuewire.com/new-federal-legislation-proposed-to-end-ghost-jobs-and-restore-integrity-to-the-hiring-process-1836081656082620 - Forbes. “New Law Could End Ghost Jobs.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karadennison/2025/07/22/new-law-could-end-ghost-jobs–what-job-seekers-can-do-in-the-meantime - IAPP. “Ghost Jobs: The Phantom Hiring Trend With Startling Data Privacy Implications.”
https://iapp.org/news/a/ghost-jobs-the-phantom-hiring-trend-with-startling-data-privacy-implications - Itentio. “Ghost Jobs and the Future of Hiring Transparency.”
https://itentio.com/blog/ghost-jobs-and-the-future-of-hiring-transparency - CBS News. “CBS News Explains: The Rise of Fake Job Listings.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fake-job-listing-ghost-jobs-cbs-news-explains