Podcast Summary
Ghost Jobs: Ghost jobs are misleading or non-existent listings that add confusion for job seekers, ranging from scams to legitimate listings that disappear or never existed.
The jobs market is experiencing a phenomenon of "ghost jobs," which are misleading or non-existent listings that confuse job seekers. These ghost jobs can range from outright scams to legitimate listings that are later removed or never existed in the first place. This situation adds to the confusion for those trying to navigate the job market, especially recent graduates like Mary Nakasone's daughter who are having trouble finding employment. Companies may post these jobs for various reasons, including testing applicant pools or using them as a way to gather contact information. As the labor market remains mysterious and volatile, it's crucial for job seekers to stay vigilant and apply critical thinking when evaluating job listings.
Ghosting in job market: The number of job openings resulting in hires has significantly decreased, causing frustration for job seekers due to the increasing trend of employers not responding to applications or filling advertised positions (ghosting)
Ghosting in the job market, where employers fail to respond after interviews or never fill advertised positions, is becoming increasingly common. According to Lisa Simon, chief economist of Ravelio Labs, the number of mentions of "ghosting" on sites reviewing hiring practices has tripled over the past six years. This trend is causing significant frustration among job seekers. Additionally, the percentage of job postings that don't result in hires has risen dramatically, with nearly half of all postings not leading to hiring. These "ghost jobs" raise questions about employers' intentions and transparency. Job seekers like Ivan have experienced this firsthand, with some listings remaining open for years without any apparent hiring activity. This situation can leave job seekers feeling disheartened and uncertain about the hiring process.
Labor Market Discrepancies: Employers in industries requiring highly skilled labor struggle to find experienced workers despite an abundance of job openings, leading to ghost jobs and skewed economic data.
While the current job market statistics may show an abundance of job openings relative to the number of unemployed individuals, the reality for employers, particularly those in industries requiring highly skilled labor, can be quite different. Allison Giddens, co-owner of WinTech in Kennesaw, Georgia, shared her experience in finding experienced machinists for her manufacturing company. Despite the high number of new graduates, she has struggled to find individuals with the necessary expertise and experience. As a result, she keeps job listings active year-round and is incentivized by job listing companies to post more listings than immediately required. This discrepancy between the available data and the actual labor market situation underscores the importance of understanding the nuances of the job market and the potential impact of "ghost jobs" on the overall economic picture.
Ghost jobs: Ghost jobs, or false job listings on popular platforms, can mislead job seekers and impact broader macro indicators of job openings. Be diligent when searching and seek transparency from job listing platforms.
Job listings on popular platforms like ZipRecruiter may not always represent actual job openings due to various reasons, including internal promotions, lack of experienced workers, cooling off of hiring intentions, incentives of modern job listing platforms, and shifting recruiting norms. This phenomenon, known as "ghost listings," can have implications for trusting broader macro indicators of job openings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which surveys employers for job openings, does not have specific data related to ghost jobs. The BLS checks for discrepancies between what employers report and their actual hiring practices. Ivan Fernandez, a job seeker, encountered this issue when he paid $400 a month for three job listings on ZipRecruiter, even though he only needed one. After seven months, he found a real job listing on government jobs.com and secured a position at a youth counseling nonprofit. This experience underscores the importance of being diligent when searching for job openings and the need for more transparency in job listing platforms.
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