What Does This Mean?
A job posting for a position that does not exist, is already filled, or that the employer does not plan to fill. Some are deliberate and some are leftover listings.
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
""That posting has been open for a year; it may be a ghost job.""
LORE & ORIGIN
Wikipedia describes the practice as documented in press from 2013 onward, with surveys in 2022 and a January 2025 study from a recruiting platform. Prevalence figures come from single surveys or vendor studies and are contested. Laws on disclosing whether a vacancy is active took effect in Ontario in January 2026, and several US states considered bills in 2026.
MENTIONS OVER TIME
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RELATED SEARCHES
TOP PLATFORMS
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