In the job market of 2025, one out of every four job postings may be a ghost a role that’s publicly advertised but never actually meant to be filled.
For job seekers, this creates a frustrating black hole.
For companies, it’s often a strategic move or a misstep.
This blog uncovers what ghost jobs are, why they exist, and what job seekers should do about them.
What Are Ghost Jobs?
Ghost jobs are job listings that appear active and open but are not truly intended to be filled at least not immediately.
They might be:
- Outdated listings left up by mistake
- Speculative roles to test talent pipelines
- Brand plays to appear “growing”
- Resume-collecting schemes to build a candidate database
Sometimes, they’re even phantom postings for legal compliance or to calm anxious investors.
Why Companies Post Jobs They Don’t Fill
- Signal Growth to the Market
- Startups and public companies use hiring ads as a PR move to look active and expanding.
- Helps attract investors, buyers, or clients by seeming “in-demand.”
- Build a Resume Bank
- Recruiters gather resumes for future roles or speculative positions.
- Some HR teams get KPIs based on applicant volume, not actual hires.
- Backup Hires
- The role is technically filled, but companies want a plan B.
- In case the current employee leaves or underperforms.
- Internal Politics or Compliance
- Some postings are required by policy even when they’re earmarked for an internal hire.
- Others are posted to justify headcount budgets.
The Toll on Job Seekers
For candidates, ghost jobs are emotionally and mentally exhausting:
- Wasted time customizing resumes and cover letters
- No feedback or ghosted communication
- False hope, especially in economic downturns
“I applied to a job that was open for 4 months. The company told me they ‘weren’t really hiring’ after an interview. Why post it at all?”Anita, UX Designer
How to Spot a Ghost Job
Look for these red flags:
Vague or recycled job descriptions
Job has been reposted multiple times without updates
No employee mentions or hiring manager tags on LinkedIn
Zero Glassdoor interview reviews for months
No activity after application not even an automated rejection
What Job Seekers Can Do
- Focus on Warm Connections
- Prioritize referrals and internal introductions over cold applications.
- Track Company Activity
- Check LinkedIn hiring activity, blog updates, and press mentions for actual growth signs.
- Ask Directly
- In networking emails or interviews, ask “Is this a new role or an expansion of an existing team?”
- Use Tools
- Use tools like Huntr, Teal, or LinkedIn Premium to track application history and recruiter activity.
The AI Twist: Are Bots Behind It?
Some companies use AI-generated listings or automated job refreshers.
In 2025, ghost listings might not even be written by a human they’re posted by bots to keep databases “fresh.”
Automation is helpful but when it creates false hope, it becomes a problem.
Is It a Trend or a Problem?
Ghost jobs reveal a major flaw in the modern hiring system.
While they offer companies short-term advantages, they erode trust in employer brands and waste human energy in a tough job market.
Until transparency becomes the norm, job seekers must stay smart, skeptical, and strategic.
