Jobs website Indeed removes millions of listings globally each month to tackle the proliferation of “ghost jobs” – advertisements for positions that don’t actually exist or have already been filled.
The platform confirmed it deletes job posts that fail to meet strict quality standards, though it couldn’t provide specific figures for Ireland. Ghost jobs have become a significant issue for both job seekers and recruitment platforms, creating frustration and wasting applicants’ time.
A US survey by Clarify Capital found that one-third of job listings are posted by companies not actively hiring. While this represents a 50% decrease from 2022 levels, the practice remains problematic for genuine job seekers.
The survey revealed various motivations behind ghost postings. Most employers (57%) maintain listings to build candidate pools for future positions, while 6% admitted to creating false impressions of company growth through fake job advertisements.
Career coaching expert Jane Downes described the practice as particularly frustrating for job hunters. “From a job hunter’s point of view, it’s a real issue. It wastes people’s time, particularly when there is no live role there,” she told The Journal.
Indeed maintains dedicated teams to assess listing legitimacy, requiring proper job descriptions, locations, titles, and application methods. The company’s policies explicitly prohibit ghost jobs, stating that all postings must connect to real employers actively hiring for specific roles.
Job seekers are advised to verify listings through detailed descriptions, application deadlines, and cross-referencing with company websites and social media.