Millions of U.S. job seekers are wasting time applying for roles that will never be filled, according to a new report from resume-building service MyPerfectResume. The analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data reveals a widespread “Ghost Job Economy” where nearly one-third of all job postings are essentially illusions.
The report, released on November 10, 2025, found that as of June 2025, 30% of all job openings—totaling over 2.2 million roles—never resulted in an actual hire. This persistent structural gap, which the report calls the “phantom gap,” has held steady between 28% and 38% each month since 2021.
“On paper, the labor market looks full of opportunity, but in reality, millions of these postings are illusions,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume. “Ghost jobs don’t just waste job seekers’ time. They inflate hope, undermine confidence in employers, and create blind spots in the economic data policymakers depend on.”
A Historical Shift
For the decade following the Great Recession (2010–2019), job openings and hires largely moved in tandem, with gaps rarely exceeding 10%. This trend fundamentally changed in 2021.
While the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily cratered both postings and hires, the rebound saw a major divergence. In 2021 and 2022, job openings spiked dramatically, rising above 11 million, but hiring activity remained flat at 6–7 million. As many as 38% of postings went unfilled during this time. Even as the economy has cooled in 2023–2025, the “ghost job rate” has stubbornly persisted at 28–32%.
Worst-Hit Sectors
The prevalence of ghost jobs varies widely across industries. The analysis of June 2025 JOLTS data identified several sectors where the “phantom gap” is most concentrated:
- Government: Nearly 60% of postings failed to result in a hire.
- Education & Health: Saw a 50% ghost rate, fueled by severe shortages in teaching and healthcare professions.
- Information: Recorded a 48% ghost rate.
- Financial Activities: Had a 44% ghost rate.
In contrast, sectors like Construction and Hospitality showed healthier labor alignment, with hires often keeping pace with or even surpassing the number of openings.