'Demoralising' | Jobseekers duped by 'ghost' roles that don't exist, with younger candidates hit hardest

A new report has revealed shocking findings that ‘ghost jobs’ - roles advertised but not genuinely being recruited for - have become more widespread, with younger workers hit hardest.

New research from HR, payroll & hiring software platform Employment Hero, revealed that a quarter (24%) of UK workers believe they have applied for a ghost job, rising to 37% among 18-34 year olds. Only 38% of roles appearing in job searches are seen as genuinely relevant, highlighting how difficult it has become to separate genuine opportunities from noise.

The rise of ghost jobs appears to be driven by a mix of factors. Some employers post roles to build a candidate pipeline, test salary expectations or benchmark the market without an immediate intention to hire. 

More worryingly, the phenomenon has also been linked to phishing activity, where fake listings are used to collect personal information from jobseekers, exploiting desperation in an increasingly competitive market.