Thread

1. Aurornis · 1790183094 · focus · HN ↗

   This statistic constantly confuses people who haven't done hiring.

   If we decide we're going to grow headcount by 10 senior software engineers, we don't copy and paste the same job listing 10 times. We leave it open and collect resumes through that. At a large or fast growing company, we might never stop interviewing and hiring senior software engineers. The listing stays open for a year or more.

   There are also specialty roles where hiring takes months. I've had niche roles open where we didn't get any applicants with any experience on the topic for over 90 days on multiple occasions.

   1. prerok · 1790183186 · focus · HN ↗

      That's fair but still indicates shortage, no?

      1. Bratmon · 1790184040 · focus · HN ↗

         No, the exact opposite! A high percentage of ghost jobs indicates that there are very few actual jobs open in the field, which suggests an oversupply of workers.

         1. vanuatu · 1790185951 · focus · HN ↗

            if the listings are open for the reasons OP stated, then yes it does indicate a shortage. if companies hired all the SWEs they wanted they wouldn't still have the listings

            1. rsynnott · 1790187980 · focus · HN ↗

               Big companies never hire all the SWEs they want, because there is always attrition. At a certain scale, there will always be people leaving and a constant need to backfill.

               1. vanuatu · 1790270862 · focus · HN ↗

                  Exactly, hence why having jobs open indicates a shortage.

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