'Ghost jobs' are on the rise – and so are calls to ban them
2 days ago
- #ghost-jobs
- #employment-law
- #job-market
- Ghost jobs refer to advertised vacancies that don't exist, either because they've been filled or never available.
- Studies show 22-34% of online job ads in the US, UK, and Germany were ghost jobs in the past year.
- Eric Thompson, a tech worker, is advocating for US legislation to ban fake job ads, including expiration dates and penalties for misleading listings.
- Ontario, Canada, is leading with new rules requiring companies to disclose if a vacancy is actively being filled and respond to interviewed candidates within 45 days.
- Ghost jobs harm job seekers' mental health and confidence, with many reporting frustration and feeling ignored by employers.
- Reasons for ghost jobs include creating talent pools, inflating company growth, and even selling applicant data.
- Experts warn ghost jobs skew job market data, leading to ineffective policies and support for job seekers.
- Job seekers are advised to network with hiring managers and watch for red flags like repeatedly reposted job ads.