Some companies post job ads but have no job to fill. People call these “ghost jobs.” In a survey, 86% of people looking for work said they found such ads.
About 36% spent four hours or more trying to get jobs they now think were not real. Another 58% had job interviews but later thought the jobs were not real. Some ads stay online too long. Others disappear and return many times.
People check ad dates and company websites before they apply. Some contact companies to ask about the jobs. Experts say to avoid ads that ask for money upfront. These ads have hurt people's trust in the job market. In June, New York state lawmakers passed a law against them.
