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Why is it so hard to find a job now? Enter Ghost Jobs

(arxiv.org)
391 points JSeymourATL | 2 comments | 14 Nov 24 14:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.416s | source
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xyst ◴[14 Nov 24 15:05 UTC] No.42136818[source]▶
> The results show that policy-makers should be aware of such a practice as it causes significant job fatigue and distorts market signals.

> distorts market signals

This is a feature, not a bug. Wall Street analysts have been using job posts as a signal for years to measure company current and future performance.

* positive signal: more job posts compared to previous quarter, so company must be healthy! Buy, Buy, Buy!

* negative signal: uh oh, less open job posts compared to previous quarter, must indicate bad quarter, hiring freeze, pending layoffs. Sell, Sell, Sell!

* neutral signal: less job posts for past 2 quarters, no increase in staff spend. Company probably cooking the books and pumping the next quarterly numbers.

I blame wall street.

replies(1): >>42136945 #
pylua ◴[14 Nov 24 15:14 UTC] No.42136945[source]▶
Are you suggesting that companies are committing FRAUD ?
replies(2): >>42137347 #>>42137811 #
1. hwbehrens ◴[14 Nov 24 16:27 UTC] No.42137811[source]▶
From my reading (IANAL), there are three types of occupational fraud: asset misappropriation, corruption, and financial statement fraud. Since job posting are interpreted as a positive signal but are not (it seems) typically and explicitly included in formal financial statements, this wouldn't rise to the level of criminal fraud.
replies(1): >>42139707 #
2. pylua ◴[14 Nov 24 18:50 UTC] No.42139707[source]▶
I am also not a lawyer, but it seems like purposefully lying about how many jobs you have in order to increase the stock price seems… shady at best.