Imagine a job seeker who has spent weeks tailoring applications, paying for a premium subscription on a major hiring platform and refreshing listings every morning, only to discover that many of the positions were never real. The listings were ghost jobs — postings for roles that do not exist or are not actively being filled. It sounds like a bad dream, but the problem is well documented.
But why might a company have ghost jobs posted? For one, increased job postings may help a company look healthier than it is. Companies that want to present a high-performing image may use the hiring ads as an indicator of growth, signaling to employees, customers and other stakeholders that the business is thriving when it may not be.
According to recruiting software platform Greenhouse’s 2024 analysis, between 18% and 22% of job postings on its platform in any given quarter qualified as ghost jobs. Further, a 2025 survey by Clarify Capital found that “1 in 5 employers intentionally leave roles unfilled to reduce costs while appearing active in hiring.”[1]
While the numbers are difficult to track, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this month that there were 7.3 million job openings in July, but only 5.1 million hires.[2] This continues a trend from last year, where June 2025 saw similar numbers.[3] This gap is noticeable and consistent, and regulators are starting to pay attention.
On July 14, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a first-of-its-kind investigation into...
Millions of Aussies will be cheering Ben Roberts-Smith after seeing his publicity campaign. But we must leave all these matters to a criminal court to decide – this time beyond reasonable doubt.