GoKawiilKickresume study: 36% of US job ads sit online over 30 days, a possible ghost-job sign
Kickresume analyzed nearly 97,000 Indeed listings across six industries for signs of so-called ghost jobs—postings companies never intend to fill. It found 36% of U.S. listings, and 43% in tech, had been live for more than 30 days, while exact reposts and 'urgent hiring' ads without deadlines each made up just 0.1% of postings.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
A long-running listing doesn't prove a job is fake, but Kickresume suggests it's the clearest available warning sign for applicants trying to avoid wasted effort. Companies may keep postings open to stockpile résumés for future roles or to project growth to investors, according to the report, though motives vary case by case. The findings could push job seekers to research a company's hiring activity before investing time in an application.
- 36% of U.S. job listings analyzed had been online over 30 days, rising to 43% in tech.
- Exact repost ads and 'urgent hiring' posts without deadlines each accounted for only 0.1% of listings.
- Kickresume's CEO Peter Duris said the rarity of those two red flags was a positive surprise.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Sherin Shibu, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “This Major Red Flag Could Mean That the Role You’re Applying for Is a ‘Ghost Job’”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.