Job Seekers Undeterred: 48% of US Workers Navigate Tough Market Hurdles!

Ghost Jobs and Interview Ghosting: A Dismal Reality for Job Seekers

Discrimination Still Haunts the Hiring Process, With 64% of Applicants Facing Bias

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The latest findings in the 2024 State of Job Hunting report shed light on a job market that feels like a minefield for candidates. With rampant ghosting, deceptive job postings, and a rise in AI-driven hiring, job seekers face an uphill battle just to land an interview. Among 2,500 surveyed workers across the US, UK, and Germany, nearly half (48%) of US workers are actively seeking jobs, yet 79% report feeling heightened anxiety amidst this increasingly competitive and fractured hiring landscape.

Candidates Face the Cold Reality of Ghosting and Phantom Jobs

Ghosting isn’t just a date-night dilemma; it’s a grave issue for job seekers as well. A staggering 61% of applicants have reported being ghosted after interviews—a grim 9-point increase since April 2024. Shockingly, nearly one in ten candidates who received job offers found themselves mysteriously ghosted by the company. Disparities in the hiring process are glaring, with 66% of historically underrepresented job seekers—up 11 points since April—facing post-interview ghosting compared to 59% of their white counterparts.

Moreover, candidates are increasingly skeptical about the legitimacy of job postings; 60% suspect they’ve stumbled upon ghost jobs, and 29% still applied. The numbers don’t lie—internal data reveals that between 18-22% of jobs listed on platforms are ghost jobs. Add to this the spike in spam and scam listings, with 73% of job seekers encountering these pitfalls.

“The data presents a grim picture of the job market as candidates grapple with uncertainty and disillusionment. It’s a treacherous landscape where ghosting, fake listings, and the rise of AI make it feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack,” states a representative from the hiring platform. “Companies must wake up to the impact of their ghosting habits—not just on candidates but on their own reputations when it comes to attracting the best talent.”

Despite DE&I Efforts, Discrimination Drives Candidates Away

While diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives are under the microscope, candidates still see them as vital. Over half (53%) of job seekers consider a company’s commitment to DE&I crucial, with only 9% viewing it as unimportant. However, the dark cloud of discrimination looms large; 64% of US applicants report facing biased interview questions, marking a 10-point jump since April 2024. The most frequently encountered discriminatory queries revolve around age (55%), race (45%), and gender (42%).

Another troubling trend: 59% of candidates reported their names being mispronounced by hiring managers, with historically underrepresented groups facing this oversight at even higher rates (63%).

“The discrepancies in hiring practices—from name mispronunciations to outright biased questions—indicate a significant gap in companies’ hiring efforts. Ignoring candidates not only tarnishes reputations but also puts them at risk of losing top talent,” asserts a hiring expert.

Candidates Navigate an AI-Driven Job Market

A whopping 91% of workers claim the job market is tougher than ever, with 57% attributing this to the influence of AI. Data shows that the workload for recruiters skyrocketed to an average of 588 applications in Q3 2024—a staggering 26% increase from the prior year. The ease of applying means that 38% of job seekers are mass applying, flooding employers with resumes rather than pursuing quality opportunities. Gen Z candidates find the competition especially daunting, with 68% agreeing that AI has intensified the job search.

For many, the hiring process remains a black box; the role of AI has only added to the fog of uncertainty. While 28% support automated screening, others remain cautious, with 15% opposing AI involvement in hiring altogether. A significant 28% of candidates express a desire for transparency regarding companies’ use of AI in hiring.

What Candidates Prioritize When Seeking New Opportunities:

• Candidate Experience & Expectations:
  • Despite facing rejection, 79% are more inclined to reapply to companies that offer constructive feedback.
  • Internal data reveals that the average time-to-hire is now 46 days—a 12% increase year-on-year. Yet, 40% of job seekers expect offers within 30 days of application.
• Communication Gaps:
  • Ghosting peaks after initial connections with recruiters (47%) and hiring managers (47%), which is simply unacceptable.
  • One-third of job seekers are willing to provide feedback on the application process but have never been asked—a missed chance for employers to improve.
• Desired Improvements in Hiring:
  • Job seekers want better job matching (47%) and enhanced recruiter communication (42%).
  • 38% are seeking ways to make their applications shine amid the competition.
  • Top priorities for increasing transparency include unbiased recruiting (32%), better alignment with suitable companies (29%), clarity on AI usage (28%), and an end to ghost job postings (25%).

For a deeper dive into the 2024 State of Job Hunting Report, visit the full results here.

Survey Methodology

This multi-market survey involved 2,500 full-time employees, including 1,010 from the U.S., with additional respondents from the UK and Germany.

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