Eric Thompson is drawing attention to the troubling phenomenon of “ghost jobs,” positions that exist solely in online listings but have no actual intent to hire. In both months, Thompson has interviewed for fake jobs that he was never really going to get. To his deep disappointment, he has had nothing but silence from employers since posting. Frustrated by his experience, he convened a task force. They are now looking to take that energy national, pushing federal legislation to ban fraudulent job ads across the United States.
Thompson leads the way just as legislators in both New Jersey and California are busy introducing and debating similar bills. Together, they hope to address the growing problem of ghost jobs. His goal is to bring together as many members of Congress as possible. Together, they can co-sponsor H.R. 2970/S. 1447 to end this deceptive practice.
Ghost jobs are disingenuous and frustrate earnest job seekers. They mislead Americans about the effect on the overall job market. Jasmine Escalera is a career coach and a recruitment consultant based in Miami. She continues to argue that foreign listings inflate government statistics and lead to ugly, head-scratching policy decisions.
“We use data to develop policy and understand what market trends look like, and so if that data is somehow skewed, then we’re not able to create the policies or provide the support that job seekers and employees need right now,” – Jasmine Escalera.
A new study by recruitment software provider Greenhouse uncovers a shocking stat. Over one-fifth (22%) of jobs listed online last year were listed not intending to fill them. Escalera’s research points to several interrelated factors that contribute to the existence of ghost jobs. Some companies may inflate their hiring numbers to project growth, while others may seek to gather and sell applicant data.
“The morale of any job seeker gets crushed,” – Jasmine Escalera.
Toronto employment lawyer Deborah Hudson is one of the growing chorus of voices sounding alarm bells on ghost jobs. She has worked with companies looking to figure this out on the right foot. In Ontario, legislation is set to take effect on January 1 that requires companies with more than 25 employees to disclose whether an advertised vacancy is actively being filled. This step goes straight for the heart of the ghost job epidemic. It directly tackles another maddening issue of “ghosting,” where applicants don’t get any response after they apply.
Hudson is glad that NYC has implemented stronger regulations, he expresses concern over their effectiveness, especially when it comes to monitoring compliance.
“My cynical side, after almost 20 years in this field, wonders how they’re actually going to monitor and regulate this. I don’t think the government has the resources to investigate, so employers may still get away with noncompliance,” – Deborah Hudson.
While Thompson and Escalera certainly understand the struggles ahead, they remain optimistic. They’re hoping that getting the word out will spur both state and federal governments to act. Yet they highlight the need for transparency in employer job advertising policies and accountability for employers that fail to comply with standards.
The urgency of addressing ghost jobs is further underscored by the toll they take on desperate job seekers. People like Ailish Davies have been through the emotional toll of applying for hundreds of jobs. They tend to get scant feedback or recognition from employers.
“The amount of time I’ve spent putting effort into tailoring an application, to hear nothing back, it knocks you down,” – Ailish Davies.
Fewer Americans have lived untouched by the spread of ghost jobs. This new awareness is creating an unprecedented grassroots demand for new legislation to address the problem. Activists such as Eric Thompson and professionals such as Jasmine Escalera are joining forces to create change. Their cumulative impact has the potential to ignite major reforms in hiring practices across the country.