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Jobseekers in Canada may face added frustration in their job hunt due to the phenomenon of “ghost jobs” – roles that are posted but which a company has no intention of actually filling. Drawing on recent survey data, this listicle looks at why ghost jobs exist, what jobseekers can do to navigate the issue, and includes an AI tool that may help in identifying if a job posting is real or fake.
3 in 10 Companies Currently Have Fake Job Postings Listed (Resume Builder)
A survey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com and published in 2024 revealed several pieces of data related to ghost jobs. Among the key findings, it was found that 40% of companies posted a fake job listing in 2024 and 30% currently had active fake listings. The survey found that “alleviating employee workload concerns and suggesting company growth” were the top reasons for a company to post fake jobs.
4 in 10 U.S. companies posted a fake job this year. Why? (Global News)
This article from Global News uses the same data found from the U.S.-based Resume Builder but looks at the findings as they apply to the Canadian context. Cal Jungwirth, Robert Half Canada’s director of placement services, said candidates may be “scared off from even applying or interviewing based on seeing that position posted multiple times in the past.” His advice to spot fake jobs is to research the company, utilize your network and take a look at how long the job has been posted.
GhostJobs.io
An AI tool, this website helps jobseekers identify if a job posting is fake by searching a database.
Ghost jobs: The phantom hiring trend with data privacy implications (IAPP)
This article from the IAPP (a policy neutral, not-for-profit association with a mission to define, promote and improve the professions of privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility globally), looks at the data and privacy implications of ghost jobs. Ghost postings “do not state the hiring manager’s true intent for collecting this data – whether that is collecting a talent pool, inflating company growth or any other reason besides filling a vacant role.” For jobseekers, they “should know their rights under their state or national data privacy laws to see if they can report violations to the appropriate data protection authorities.”
How To Tell If You’re Applying to a “Ghost Job” (WorkLink Employment Society)
WorkLink Employment Society, a non-profit based in British Columbia, lists red flags jobseekers can look for when searching job postings. A job posting that has been posted for over 30 days could be an indication that a company is renewing “the job posting in order to be at the top of job search sites.” A jobseeker that comes across a job posting that has been posted for a long period of time can double check the company’s website to see if the job is cross-posted.
It’s Not a Scam. It’s Just a Ghost Job (Indeed)
This extensive article from Indeed looks into the reasons why a company may post a ghost job, what applicants can look for to discern if a posting is fake and even the potential benefits of applying for a ghost job posting. The article references a survey from Clarify Capital that found companies post ghost jobs for two additional reasons: to give people the impression that a business is growing and to keep a pool of applicants for future need. The article also gives jobseekers red flags to look for that could give an indication that the job posting is fake. For example, the lack of a detailed job description or no indication when the job listing was posted.
Ontario Helping Jobseekers and Cracking Down on Exploitative Employers (Government of Ontario)
Some jurisdictions are attempting to crackdown on ghost jobs. The province of Ontario “is proposing legislative changes that would make the hiring process fairer for jobseekers” including “changes [that] would discourage employers from ‘ghosting’ jobseekers.” The proposed changes would require larger companies to disclose if a job vacancy exists and to respond to applicants who interview for an advertised position. Companies who are found in violation would face fines “from $50,000 to $100,000, which would be the highest fine in Canada.”
The ghost jobs haunting your career search (Stack Overflow)
This blog post says a company might post a ghost job to mislead their employees into believing their workload will be lessened by new workers or “to make their employees feel ‘replaceable.’” In addition to the time that the posting has been live, two other signs for jobseekers to be aware of are if they have seen the listing before or not being able to find much out about the company. The post also offers jobseekers the advice of focusing on what they can control in their job hunt (e.g. networking or professional development).
Why ghost jobs are on the rise (CNBC)
For those who prefer audio-video learning, this video takes an in depth look at why ghost jobs are on the rise including companies building up a talent pool or signalling growth, and includes similar advice on what jobseekers can do to be on the look out for ghost jobs.
Additional reading:
- 4 in 10 companies say they’ve posted a fake job this year – what that actually means (CNBC)
- Frustrated by ‘ghost jobs’? Ford government to crack down on employers who leave applicants with false hope (Toronto Star)
- Ontario legislation regarding ‘ghost’ job posts: Lior Samfiru on 640 Toronto (Samfiru Tumarkin LLP)
- The rise of ‘ghost jobs’: One in five job posts aren’t real, new report shows (MSN)
