{"id":273374,"date":"2025-04-09T08:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T08:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/?post_type=hr-glossary&#038;p=273374"},"modified":"2025-04-09T08:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T08:04:11","slug":"ghost-jobs","status":"publish","type":"hr-glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/hr-glossary\/ghost-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghost Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-ghost-jobs\">What are ghost jobs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost jobs, also known as fake jobs or phantom jobs, are job listings that seem legitimate but are actually for positions that are not open or don\u2019t even exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies post such fake or outdated jobs for several reasons. For instance, some employers want to assess market interest and the availability of skills for specific positions, while others simply forget to remove old postings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This practice of posting ghost jobs is not uncommon \u2014 in fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumebuilder.com\/3-in-10-companies-currently-have-fake-job-posting-listed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three in 10 companies<\/a> admit to advertising for roles that aren\u2019t real.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gaihrpl gaihrpl-17\"><div class=\"gaihrpl-single aaihrpl-265\"><a class=\"gofollow\" data-track=\"MjY1LDE3LDYwMA==\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/courses\/sourcing-recruitment-certification\/?il_id=banner&#038;il_name=srcp&#038;il_creative=srcp-modules&#038;il_position=slot2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"display:block;padding-top:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/plugs\/podcast-blog-ads-fade.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/SRCP-Banner-Modules.png 360w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/SRCP-Banner-Modules.png 360w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/SRCP-Banner-Modules.png 700w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/plugs\/ w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 360px, (max-width: 960px) 360px, (max-width: 1280px) 700px, 750px\" style=\"box-shadow: 0px 0px 20px 5px rgb(46 61 73 \/ 15%);display: block;margin: auto; border-radius:19px;\" class=\"small_ad\" \/><\/a>\r\n<br><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-do-companies-post-ghost-jobs\">Why do companies post ghost jobs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are some common reasons companies post ghost jobs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Future needs:<\/strong> 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\u2019re indeed ready.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Constant alertness:<\/strong> Some companies want to be on constant alert for talent even if they lack critical openings \u2013 especially for roles that need quick replacements amid vacancies (e.g., sales roles).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Market insights: <\/strong>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human oversight:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Back-up plan:<\/strong> 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&#8217;t work out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also more questionable reasons that companies post fake listings, including the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Projecting success:<\/strong> Some companies post ghost jobs to appear as if they are constantly hiring and growing or to keep their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/blog\/employer-branding-strategy\/\">employer brand<\/a> top of mind for potential candidates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employee manipulation:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumebuilder.com\/3-in-10-companies-currently-have-fake-job-posting-listed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">63% of employers<\/a> admit to posting ghost jobs to mislead employees into thinking new hires will lighten their workload despite having no intention of hiring new staff.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fearmongering among employees:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumebuilder.com\/3-in-10-companies-currently-have-fake-job-posting-listed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Over 60% of employers<\/a> claim they post ghost jobs as a form of power play to instill fear in current employees that they will be fired and replaced soon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69faa07e2dd46&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69faa07e2dd46\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Graphic listing five reasons companies post ghost jobs.\" class=\"wp-image-273546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-510x510.png 510w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-24x24.png 24w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-48x48.png 48w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-impact-of-posting-ghost-jobs\">The impact of posting ghost jobs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While posting fake job ads may benefit employers in some aspects, there are several ways this tactic can backfire, resulting in the following negative consequences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-candidate-frustration\">Candidate frustration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates often spend a lot of time and effort applying for jobs. Not receiving a response or discovering that the jobs they\u2019ve applied for are fake creates a bad will, as candidates waste valuable time, they could have used to apply for real jobs instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fewer-good-applicants\">Fewer good applicants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When a company starts gaining a reputation for posting fake jobs, talented candidates are likely to think twice before applying or choose not to apply at all. This leads to a lack of qualified candidates, affecting business outcomes significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-employee-dissatisfaction\">Employee dissatisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Current employees who find out their employer has been posting ghost jobs are bound to feel betrayed and distrustful. This tactic tells employees their employer has been dishonest with them or sees the need to manipulate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reputational-damage\">Reputational damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When people realize a company has been misleading candidates with fake jobs, public trust in that company can be irrevocably broken. This can lead to fewer candidates applying and current employees seeking employment elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-workload\">Additional workload<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost jobs that attract numerous candidates will force the HR team in charge of hiring to spend additional time handling extra applications for non-existent jobs. This can frustrate HR as it gets in the way of their more pressing duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-legal-issues\">Legal issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost job ads might be considered false advertising or misrepresentation, which is illegal in some U.S. states. For instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&amp;sectionNum=17500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California&#8217;s False Advertising Law<\/a> prohibits untrue or misleading ads, with a penalty of up to six months\u2019 imprisonment, a $2,500 fine, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hr-tip\">HR tip<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you post ghost jobs for future roles or resourcing purposes, be upfront about your intentions. Clearly state in your ads that you want to build your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/blog\/a-deep-dive-into-the-talent-pool-including-6-cool-examples\/\">talent pool<\/a>, and your call for applications is not to fill immediate openings. This can help your company minimize candidate frustration, and protect its employer brand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744096233561\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is a ghost job?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A ghost job is a job listing a company posts even though it doesn\u2019t plan to hire anyone for it. Companies sometimes do this to appear like they\u2019re growing, collect r\u00e9sum\u00e9s for future needs, or keep an open position just in case a suitable candidate comes along \u2014 even if there\u2019s no actual role available.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744096240002\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a ghost position illegal?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Posting ghost jobs isn\u2019t illegal in the U.S., but it can be considered unethical. If a company posts fake listings to collect applicant data or give investors or customers a false impression, it could raise legal or reputational concerns, especially if it leads to discrimination or violates fair hiring practices. In some states, this can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","hr_glossary_category":[736],"class_list":["post-273374","hr-glossary","type-hr-glossary","status-publish","hentry","hr_glossary_category-talent-acquisition-recruitment","description-off"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Are Ghost Jobs? | HR Glossary - AIHR<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ghost jobs are job listings that seem legitimate but are actually for positions that are not open or don\u2019t even exist.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/hr-glossary\/ghost-jobs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ghost Jobs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ghost jobs are job listings that seem legitimate but are actually for positions that are not open or don\u2019t even exist.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hr-glossary\/273374\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AIHR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/analyticsinhr\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-09T08:04:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ghost-jobs-Blog-1024x1024.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AnalyticsinHR\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aihr.com\\\/hr-glossary\\\/ghost-jobs\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aihr.com\\\/hr-glossary\\\/ghost-jobs\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Are Ghost Jobs? 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