Job seekers across the United States have long been blindsided by 'ghost jobs'—postings that never lead to hiring. New York lawmakers have moved to curb the practice. The proposed bill would force companies to disclose hiring intent and pull listings within two weeks of filling a role. It targets firms with 100+ employees and job boards.

Under the draft, any posting that plans to hire within 90 days must show the target date in bold, all caps. If a role is unlikely to open soon, employers must state that and give a projected timeframe. Listings that simply harvest resumes must declare their purpose explicitly to avoid misleading recruiters and protect job seekers efforts overall today.

The legislation follows a study of 175,000 postings that found one in seven lingered over 30 days, likely no longer under review. Critics argue the rule may burden small recruiters, but supporters say it restores trust in online hiring. If Governor Hochul signs, the law will take effect next month, tightening job‑posting transparency across the state for job seekers everywhere.