Why Are Ghost Job Postings Rising 25% Each Year in India’s Job Market?
About the Ghost Job Posting Trend
India’s employment ecosystem is witnessing a peculiar trend — a surge in ghost job postings, or advertisements for positions that do not actually exist. According to recruitment experts, these fake listings are increasing at an annual rate of 25%.
Such postings are primarily used by employers to assess market salary benchmarks, track talent availability, and build candidate databases without committing to hiring. While seemingly harmless, this phenomenon creates confusion for job seekers and misrepresents the true hiring demand in the economy.
Recruitment firm CIEL HR Services estimates that nearly half of the roles applied for on major job portals are reposted within weeks, often with interviews starting only to be placed “on hold” or cancelled mid-process. Experts describe this as a way for firms to “keep talent warm” without offering real employment.
Why Companies Are Posting Fake Jobs
- 🧩 To benchmark salary levels and increments across roles.
- 📊 To measure job seeker activity in specific industries.
- 🧠 To maintain a ready talent pipeline for future hiring.
- 💼 To check internal team strength and role redundancy.
These postings help employers gauge the supply-demand balance in the job market. However, they also distort economic indicators like unemployment data and recruitment trends.
Companies using this strategy are mainly small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) from IT, manufacturing, legal services, healthcare, retail, and hospitality sectors. Many claim this tactic helps them stay competitive in a volatile hiring environment.
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Who Is Behind the Trend?
Recruiters say ghost postings are most common among small to mid-sized firms lacking dedicated HR analytics tools. By simulating hiring activity, these companies aim to:
- 🎯 Attract skilled professionals for future consideration.
- 📉 Manage wage expectations during appraisal cycles.
- 📈 Signal company growth to investors and competitors.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Opportunities & Threats
Opportunities
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Threats
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Market & Regulatory Outlook
- Short-term: Recruitment platforms may tighten verification norms for job postings.
- Medium-term: HR tech startups could capitalize by offering authenticity ratings and job audits.
- Long-term: Stricter regulation under India’s Digital Employment Code may become inevitable.
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Investor Takeaway
Indian-Share-Tips.com employment analysts highlight that the ghost posting phenomenon reveals a deeper anxiety in India’s job market — firms are cautious, yet curious. Investors in HR tech, job platforms, and workforce analytics should watch for regulatory clarity and innovation in verified hiring systems. Explore more workforce intelligence insights at Indian-Share-Tips.com, which is a SEBI Registered Advisory Services.
Related Queries on Employment Market Trends
- What Are Ghost Job Postings and Why Are They Rising?
- Which Industries Post Fake Job Openings the Most?
- How Can Job Portals Ensure Transparency in Hiring?
SEBI Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers must perform their own due diligence and consult a registered investment advisor before making any investment decisions.
