Justin Marcus, CEO and co-founder of the recruitment platform Big 4 Talent, sheds light on the troubling rise of “ghost jobs” in the recruitment industry. With over a decade of experience, Marcus reveals that ghost jobs—non-existent or perpetually open job listings—are becoming increasingly common.
Marcus recounts his wife’s experience with a ghost job. She was recruited for a remote graphic designer position, went through interviews, and was offered the job. She discovered it was a scam when she was asked for sensitive personal information. Such instances are part of a growing trend where fake recruiters exploit job seekers for personal data or financial information.
Proof in the numbers
A 2022 survey indicated that 68% of employers had job listings active for over 30 days. Of these, 10% remained open for six months or more. A more recent survey found that 73% of respondents had encountered ghost or spam job offers. As of late March, NBC News reported over 1.8 million job listings on LinkedIn that had been posted for a month or more. These figures suggest a significant rise in ghost job postings.
Why are they maintained?
Ghost jobs can be categorized into data harvesting, pipeline creation, internal policy compliance, or market visibility tactics. Some companies maintain job listings to harvest data for marketing purposes or to comply with diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Others use these listings to boost their visibility and brand presence, benefiting from tax write-offs on recruitment expenditures.
The proliferation of ghost jobs not only frustrates job seekers but also muddies labor market data. This is concerning as entities like the Federal Reserve rely on accurate data from reports like the Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) to make economic decisions. Ghost jobs distort this data, making it difficult to gauge the true state of the job market.
The rise of AI and machine learning in recruitment has further complicated the issue. Automated postings allow employers to effortlessly list jobs across multiple platforms, often without considering the candidate experience.
Take adequate caution
To protect against ghost jobs, Marcus advises job seekers to scrutinize job listings. He asks everyone to be wary of positions open for extended periods, to verify recruiter contact information, and to avoid paying for job applications. By remaining vigilant, applicants can avoid falling victim to these deceptive practices and focus on legitimate opportunities.
