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States advance bans on fake job postings known as ghost jobs
New York lawmakers passed a bill requiring hiring timelines in job ads, while Pennsylvania’s proposal would also require employers to say when listings are removed after a hire.
When companies post openings on job boards without intending to fill them, lawmakers are moving to curb the practice dubbed “ghost jobs,” a Wall Street Journal report says. Yahoo Finance notes that lawmakers in multiple states are considering or advancing requirements that job ads include expected hiring timelines, with penalties in some cases.
In New York, legislators have passed a bill in both houses that would require companies to list timelines for hiring a candidate on job advertisements, or face fines. Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to review the measure after it reaches her desk.
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Rep. Jim Prokopiak introduced a bill in March that would require employers to state their hiring intentions and provide a timeline for when job listings will be removed after a role is filled. Similar approaches are being considered in Kentucky, New Jersey, and California.
The issue has also drawn scrutiny of job boards. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into LinkedIn, alleging it has advertised and profited from fake job ads, while LinkedIn says its policies require that posted jobs be authentic and accurately represented. The report also cites survey data from 2024 showing 40% of companies said they posted a fake job listing that year.