Ghost job ads growing ‘common’ in recruitment, report finds

“Companies post such fake or outdated jobs for several reasons,” the AIHR said on its website. “For instance, some employers want to assess market interest and the availability of skills for specific positions, while others simply forget to remove old postings.”

In the LiveCareer report, 48% of HR leaders use ghost jobs for special needs like seasonal hiring or building out a talent pipeline. Another five per cent said they only do so for “special circumstances.”

The duration of these ghost jobs varies per organisation. According to 43% of HR professionals, these listings can remain up from one to four weeks.

Some 37% said these ghost jobs are active from one to three months, while 15% said they last for less than a week.

Impact of ghost jobs

LiveCareer said their findings show that ghost job postings are “becoming a common part of recruitment strategies,” but warned of their potential consequences for organisations.