A Year Later — Ghost Jobs Are Still Haunting the Job Market

In August 2024, CNBC published an article warning about a growing problem: ghost jobs. These are job postings for positions that companies aren’t actively trying to fill. The numbers were alarming—40% of companies admitted to posting ghost jobs, and 30% had them active at the time. Revelio Labs reported hiring effectiveness had dropped in half over just five years—from 8 hires per 10 listings in 2019 to only 4 per 10 in 2024.

That was a year ago. And yet, ghost jobs are still with us. The issue hasn’t faded—it’s become a persistent, structural problem in online hiring. This shows why we need systemic reform, like the Truth in Job Advertising and Accountability Act (TJAAA), to protect job seekers and restore trust in employment advertising.

We’re building a public archive of ghost job coverage. If you see a news article on the subject—past or present—please send it to us so we can document the scope and history of the problem.