Moriarty Bill to Crack Down on “Ghost Listings” Advances in Senate

Senator Moriarty's bill to protect job seekers from misleading job postings has passed the Senate Labor Committee, moving one step closer to becoming law. This legislation targets the growing issue of “ghost listings” — job postings that remain active despite there being no real intention to hire.

Ghost listings are often used by companies to stockpile resumes, project an illusion of growth, or test the job market. While these tactics may benefit businesses, they come at a significant cost to job seekers, who waste valuable time and energy applying for non-existent roles.

A May 2024 survey by Resume Builder highlights just how widespread ghost listings have become:

• 40% of hiring managers admitted their company posted at least one fake job listing in the past year.

• 30% of companies were actively advertising for a role that wasn’t real at the time of the survey.

• Fake listings appeared at all job levels, including entry-level (63%), mid-level (68%), senior-level (53%), and even executive roles (45%).

• Responsibility for ghost listings often stemmed from within the company, with HR (37%), senior management (29%), and executives (25%) most frequently initiating the practice.

By requiring employers to remove filled job listings and provide clear communication about actual vacancies, this bill promotes transparency and accountability in the hiring process. Please contact our office with any questions - 856-232-6700.