The job search has become more complicated for candidates who can’t always trust that a posted position represents an active hiring need.
New research from ResumeBuilder.com’s Ghost Jobs Report examines how often job seekers encounter suspected ghost jobs, how much time they spend pursuing them, what makes a listing seem suspicious, and how these experiences are changing how candidates approach the job search.
Based on a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults who searched for a job within the past two years, the findings show that suspected ghost jobs are common enough to influence how candidates evaluate opportunities.
Many check when positions were posted, verify openings directly through employer career sites, research companies, and avoid listings that appear repeatedly.
Key Findings
- Ghost jobs are commonplace. 86% say they’ve encountered a job posting they suspected wasn’t tied to an active hiring need.
- Interviews don’t always lead to a real opportunity. 58% say they’ve interviewed for a position they later suspected was a ghost job.
- Candidates are losing hours to questionable openings. 19% estimate spending 4 to 10 hours pursuing positions they later questioned, while 8% estimate spending 11 to 20 hours and another 8% more than 20 hours.
- Ghost jobs are taking a toll. 39% say the experience has increased their stress or frustration, 32% have become less trusting of employers, and 20% are less motivated to continue applying.
- Candidates are learning the warning signs. 38% cite listings that stayed active too long, looked outdated, or remained posted after being filled as the biggest indicator of a ghost job.
- Job seekers are changing how they search. 34% check when a position was originally posted, while 32% verify openings on employers’ career websites.
More Than 8 in 10 Job Seekers Have Encountered a Ghost Job
Most recent job seekers say they’ve encountered a job posting they suspected wasn’t tied to an active hiring need. Overall, 86% report encountering a suspected ghost job.
Among those who have encountered these postings:
- 20% say it happens very often.
- 20% say it happens often.
- 29% say it sometimes happens.
- 17% say it rarely happens.
- 14% say it never happens.
What this means: Ghost jobs have become common enough that candidates feel they need to evaluate an opportunity’s legitimacy before deciding whether to pursue it. Instead of treating every listing as an active opening, job seekers increasingly consider how many job postings are fake and look for signs that an employer is actually hiring.
An Interview Doesn’t Guarantee a Real Opening
Reaching the interview stage can make a job opportunity feel more legitimate, but 58% of recent job seekers say they’ve interviewed for a position they later suspected was a ghost job. For 31%, this happened multiple times, while 27% say it happened once.
The time spent pursuing these positions can add up quickly:
- 28% estimate spending 1–3 hours pursuing positions they later questioned.
- 19% estimate spending 4–10 hours.
- 8% estimate spending 11–20 hours.
- 8% estimate spending more than 20 hours.
- 16% estimate spending less than 1 hour.
What this means: The investment in a questionable job can extend far beyond submitting an application. Candidates may spend additional time preparing for interviews, speaking with recruiters, researching employers, and following up before realizing the position may not be moving forward.
Ghost Jobs Leave Candidates Stressed & Less Motivated
Suspected ghost jobs cost candidates time. Many say these experiences have affected how they feel about employers, job listings, and the overall job search.
Among respondents:
- 39% say the experience has increased their stress or frustration.
- 32% say they’ve become less trusting of employers.
- 32% say they’ve become less trusting of online job listings.
- 23% say they’ve become less trusting of job sites or platforms.
- 22% say they question whether genuine job opportunities are available.
- 20% say they’re less motivated to continue applying.
- 17% say they’ve delayed their job search.
- 16% say they’re less willing to provide personal information.
- 12% say they’ve paused or abandoned their job search.
- 10% say they’ve remained in a job they wanted to leave.
- 8% say they’ve missed out on another job opportunity.
What this means: Repeatedly pursuing positions that may not be actively hiring can affect more than a candidate’s schedule. It can also erode trust in employers and job platforms, increase frustration, and make it harder for some job seekers to stay motivated.
Knowing How to Spot a Ghost Job Is Now an Essential Job Search Skill
Identifying questionable job postings is now part of navigating the job market. When asked what caused them to question whether a position was genuinely being filled, respondents pointed to several recurring warning signs:
When asked what made them suspect a posting was a ghost job:
- 38% cite listings that remained active too long, appeared outdated, or stayed posted after being filled.
- 34% point to positions that were repeatedly removed, reposted, or advertised.
- 34% cite employer behavior such as no response, no clear hiring timeline, or an interview process that abruptly stopped.
- 24% encountered positions that were frozen, canceled, unapproved, or not currently open.
- 19% believe some employers were collecting resumes without clearly disclosing that purpose.
What this means: Job seekers are paying attention to more than the qualifications and responsibilities listed in a job posting. How long a position stays active, whether it reappears repeatedly, and how an employer communicates throughout the process can shape whether candidates believe an opportunity is legitimate.
Job Seekers Are Adapting Their Search
As candidates encounter more suspected ghost jobs, many are changing how they approach the search. Instead of immediately applying to every position that looks like a fit, they take extra steps to verify opportunities and evaluate employers.
- 34% check when the position was originally posted.
- 32% verify listings on employers’ career websites.
- 27% avoid positions that have been repeatedly reposted.
- 25% prioritize recently posted positions.
- 23% research employers more carefully.
- 15% contact employers or recruiters before applying.
- 13% apply to fewer positions.
- 13% avoid certain job sites or platforms.
- 11% avoid certain employers.
- 11% provide less personal information during the initial application.
- 9% rely more heavily on networking or referrals.
- 6% report listings they believe are inactive or misleading.
What this means: Candidates are becoming more selective about where they spend their time and attention. Verifying a position through an employer’s career site, checking when it was posted, and researching the company can help job seekers gather more information before committing to an application.
Ghost Jobs Are the New Norm
Ghost jobs are no longer an occasional frustration for job seekers. Candidates now have to factor them into their evaluations, with many checking listings more closely and taking extra steps before deciding where to invest their time.
Job seekers who recognize the warning signs and take the time to vet opportunities can make more informed decisions about where to focus their search.
For press inquiries, please contact Alex Murphy at [email protected].
Methodology
The ghost jobs study findings are based on a survey conducted on August 27, 2026, of 1,011 U.S. adults who had searched for a job in the past 24 months. The survey examined respondents’ experiences with suspected ghost jobs and inactive listings, including what led them to question whether positions were actively being filled, how much time they spent pursuing opportunities they later questioned, and the effects on trust and job search behavior.
The sample consisted of 33% millennials, 29% Gen X, 20% Gen Z, and 18% baby boomers. Participants identified their gender as 51% female, 48% male, and 1% nonbinary.
