Digest

This episode of The Indicator delves into the perplexing world of "ghost jobs." The term refers to job listings that appear legitimate but are never filled, leaving job seekers in a state of uncertainty. The episode highlights several reasons for this trend, including outright scams, ghosting by employers, and the practice of companies posting jobs they don't intend to fill. The episode also examines the impact of ghost jobs on economic indicators, particularly the number of job openings for every unemployed person. The episode concludes with a personal story of a job seeker who navigated the challenging job market and ultimately found a real job.

Outlines

00:00:02

Introduction: Jobs Friday and the Spooky Job Market

This Chapter introduces the episode's focus on the latest employment report and the curious trends in the labor market. It sets the stage for the exploration of "ghost jobs" and their impact on job seekers and economic indicators.

00:00:14

Listener Inquiry: Ghost Jobs and Their Purpose

This Chapter presents a listener's question about the prevalence of "ghost jobs" and the potential motives behind employers posting jobs they don't intend to fill. It sets the stage for the investigation into the phenomenon of ghost jobs.

00:00:25

Exploring the Types of Ghost Jobs

This Chapter dives into the different types of ghost jobs, including outright scams, ghosting by employers, and job ads posted by companies that don't intend to fill the positions. It provides insights into the motivations behind these practices and their impact on job seekers.

00:05:08

Employer Perspective: Ghost Jobs and Hiring Challenges

This Chapter explores the perspective of an employer, Alison Giddens, who owns a manufacturing company. Alison discusses the challenges of finding skilled workers and the incentives offered by job listing platforms that encourage employers to post more jobs than they need. It provides a balanced perspective on the issue of ghost jobs.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are "ghost jobs" and why are they a concern?

  Ghost jobs are job listings that are posted but never filled, leaving job seekers frustrated and questioning the accuracy of economic indicators. This can be due to scams, ghosting by employers, or companies posting jobs they don't intend to fill. The concern is that these ghost jobs can create a false picture of the job market, making it difficult for job seekers to find real opportunities and for policymakers to accurately assess the state of the economy.

• What are some of the reasons why employers might post ghost jobs?

  Employers might post ghost jobs for a variety of reasons, including: - **Scams:** Some job listings are purely scams designed to collect personal information or money from applicants. - **Ghosting:** Employers may ghost applicants after interviews, leading to frustration and uncertainty. - **Unfilled Positions:** Companies may post jobs they don't intend to fill, perhaps to create the impression of a strong hiring pipeline or to meet the requirements of job listing platforms. - **Internal Promotions:** Sometimes, job listings are posted for internal promotions, and employers may not be seriously considering outside applicants.

• How do ghost jobs impact economic indicators?

  Ghost jobs can distort economic indicators, particularly the number of job openings for every unemployed person. This indicator is often cited as a sign of the job market's resilience, but if a significant number of job listings are ghost jobs, the indicator may not accurately reflect the true state of the job market.

• What can be done to address the issue of ghost jobs?

  Addressing the issue of ghost jobs requires a multi-pronged approach. This includes: - **Increased Transparency:** Job listing platforms could require employers to provide more information about their hiring intentions and track the outcomes of job postings. - **Improved Job Seeker Education:** Job seekers need to be educated about the different types of ghost jobs and how to identify scams. - **Enhanced Enforcement:** Government agencies could investigate and penalize employers who engage in fraudulent job posting practices. - **Improved Data Collection:** The Bureau of Labor Statistics could collect more data on ghost jobs to better understand the extent of the problem and its impact on economic indicators.

Show Notes