In today’s highly competitive job market, applicants are investing more time than ever polishing résumés and tailoring cover letters—only to find out that some of the jobs they’re applying for may not be real. These so-called “ghost jobs” are listings that employers post with no actual intention of filling. And as frustrating as they are, they appear to be more common than many job seekers might expect.

Recent research indicates a significant portion of online job postings may be inactive, outdated, or never meant to be filled in the first place. According to a 2023 ResumeBuilder survey of 649 U.S. hiring managers, 40 percent said their companies had posted listings in the past year for roles they weren’t actively trying to fill. About 30 percent admitted they currently had such listings active.

Similarly, MyPerfectResume found that 36 percent of recruiters surveyed had posted jobs they had no plans to hire for. Among them, nearly one in five admitted that up to 75 percent of their company’s open roles were ghost listings.

In addition, data from applicant tracking system Greenhouse revealed that 18 to 22 percent of jobs posted on its platform never resulted in a hire.

Employers cite a range of reasons for leaving up or creating non-active postings. Some want to build a pipeline of potential candidates for future use. Others post because of internal policy, such as the requirement to advertise jobs publicly even if an internal promotion is already decided. Some use postings to test the job market or assess salary expectations. And in many cases, companies say they want to give the impression of growth or hiring momentum—especially during periods of hiring freezes.

ResumeBuilder’s report offers insight into employer motivations: 67 percent of hiring managers said their companies post ghost jobs to appear open to talent, 66 percent said to give the appearance of growth, and 63 percent said to ease the workload on existing staff even if they couldn’t afford to hire anyone.

For job seekers, ghost listings can be incredibly frustrating. Many candidates spend hours preparing an application, only to receive no response or update. It’s common to see the same job listing posted repeatedly for months at a time, with no indication of actual interviews or hiring progress. These experiences lead to fatigue, skepticism, and a growing distrust of online job boards.

Experts advise job seekers to be vigilant. While it’s not always easy to spot a ghost listing, certain red flags can help: jobs that remain open for months without change, listings that don’t appear on the company’s official careers page, or positions with vague, non-specific descriptions. Other indicators include frequent reposting or a complete lack of acknowledgment after applying.

To navigate the modern job market more effectively, applicants are encouraged to apply directly through company websites, filter listings by most recent posting dates, and verify roles through platforms like LinkedIn. Reaching out to current employees can also offer insight into whether a role is truly open. During interviews or email correspondence, candidates should feel comfortable asking how long the role has been open and how many candidates have been interviewed.

Beyond individual frustrations, ghost jobs also distort broader labor trends. With a significant portion of listings not leading to hires, economic analysts and job market observers may misread the true demand for labor. This can affect policy discussions, wage expectations, and public perception of employment growth.

Until hiring practices become more transparent, ghost jobs will continue to clutter job boards and drain the time and energy of hopeful applicants. For now, awareness and skepticism may be a job seeker’s best defense.