Help Wanted (But Not Right Now.) Why Employers Post ‘Ghost Jobs’
“Ghost jobs,” job listings from a company that does not intend to hire for the position, make up a stunning 68% of job postings online. In a survey of over 1,000 hiring managers, about one-third of employers planned to fill the job within one month. The remaining two-thirds of employers said they had listings up for over 30 days and intended to fill the position within two months or more.
Among the reasons cited for this statistic, employers reported the following:
43%: To keep current employees motivated
43%: To give the impression that the company is growing
39%: Job was filled
37% to have an active pool of applicants
Searching for the right job is as time-consuming as searching for the right candidate. The time an applicant spends applying for a ghost job would be better spent on an opportunity where they stand a chance at being hired. In 2019, employers had the upper hand. Subject to the employer's whims, job seekers may have asked how to filter out these job postings.
However, it’s 2023, and two years of a pandemic have altered workers’ ideas of who they want to work for. Employers post ghost jobs “just in case” an “irresistible” candidate applies, but in 2023, the “irresistible candidate” might not wait for the employer to make up their mind, particularly if that employer does not value their time. In this job market, they will ask, what’s in it for me?
The 2023 job applicant wants to work for employers who value their time. Working from home during the pandemic is imprinted in workers’ minds, and they carry those experiences into the post-pandemic workplace. There is a higher demand for remote work than there are opportunities, and it’s not because they want to work in their pajamas. By saving time on their commute, they can spend more time with their families and prioritize health and wellness. High childcare costs and the shortage of childcare workers also force parents out of the workforce, making WFH flexibility more critical than ever.
The 2023 employer attracts “irresistible candidates” by valuing their time and overcoming productivity obstacles. Some are experimenting with 4-day work weeks, while others offer on-site daycare for working parents. The 2023 workplace treats people like people.
