Canadian Job Seekers Grapple with Widespread 'Ghost Jobs,' Impacting Mental Health and Trust

Prevalence of 'Ghost Jobs' in Canada

More than half, specifically 56 per cent, of Canadian job seekers believe they have applied for a 'ghost job,' according to a recent survey by Employment Hero. These 'ghost jobs' are defined as postings for roles that employers have no real intention of filling. The survey, which polled over 1,000 Canadians, highlights a growing frustration with opaque hiring practices and a lack of communication from employers.

The phenomenon appears widespread across Canada, with Ontario-based employees (61 per cent) reporting the highest incidence, followed by workers in British Columbia and Quebec (55 per cent each), and Alberta (53 per cent).

Significant Impact on Job Seeker Well-being

The emotional toll of encountering 'ghost jobs' is substantial. Seven out of 10 job seekers reported that being 'ghosted' by an employer has negatively impacted their mental health and motivation to continue their job search. A significant portion, one-third, described this impact as 'significant or severe'. This experience contributes to a broader sentiment of discouragement, with 78 per cent of respondents stating that the challenges of job searching have deterred them from seeking new roles. KJ Lee, CEO of Employment Hero Canada, noted that 'Job searching already takes time and emotional energy,' and when candidates face silence or unclear expectations, it 'creates a trust problem in hiring'.

Reasons Behind the Practice

Companies post 'ghost jobs' for various reasons, contributing to the current landscape of the Canadian job market. These include:

• Building a candidate pipeline: Employers may advertise roles to collect resumes for potential future openings, even if there is no immediate vacancy.
• Market research: Some companies use these postings to gauge market interest in specific skills or positions and to assess the availability of talent.
• Projecting growth: Advertising numerous openings can make a company appear more prosperous and growing, both externally and internally.
• Boosting internal morale: Companies might post fake listings to make current employees believe that new staff are being hired to alleviate workloads.
• Human error: In some cases, old job postings may simply be left online due to oversight.

A survey by LiveCareer found that 45 per cent of HR professionals 'regularly' post ghost jobs, with another 48 per cent doing so 'occasionally'.

Calls for Greater Transparency

In response to these issues, Ontario introduced new hiring transparency requirements effective January 1, 2026. These regulations mandate that employers with 25 or more staff include salary ranges in job postings and respond to all interviewed candidates within 45 days. While 88 per cent of Ontario job seekers believe these new laws will be beneficial, a cautious 95 per cent anticipate that companies will attempt to find loopholes. Nationwide, approximately 89 per cent of Canadian workers support similar legislation in their respective provinces, indicating a strong desire for clearer pay disclosure, better communication, and defined hiring timelines.