Danielsen, Speight legislation would ensure employers provide clear job vacancy details and timely updates to job seekers

(TRENTON) — For many job seekers, applying to a position only to never hear back, or learning the job was never truly open, has become an all-too-common experience in today’s competitive job market. Recognizing that frustration, the Assembly Labor Committee today advanced legislation to require employers or a third-party job posting company to clarify in job postings whether the posting is for existing position or for an anticipated vacancy. The bill would also require an employer or third-party job posting company to remove a job posting when a position has been filled within two weeks after the position being filled or within 30 days after the original posting, whichever is later.

The bill, A1161, sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, seeks to make sure that advertised positions reflect real opportunities for New Jersey workers.

“Searching for a job can be a stressful and time-consuming process,” said Assemblyman Danielsen (D-Middlesex, Somerset). “Sometimes, a single job can make all the difference for a family, and if a job seeker respects an employer’s time enough to show up prepared for an interview, employers should show the same respect by being honest about whether the position is truly available.”

Under the bill, employers who conduct an interview with applicants would be required to notify those candidates whether the position has been filled or whether they remain under consideration. The legislation would further require employers to provide a timeframe listed in the job advertisement. The employer would also be required to make reasonable efforts to give notice to a third-party job posting company that the position has been filled.

“Everyone deserves an equal chance at pursing a meaningful job opportunity, and that opportunity should be real, and ready, when someone decides to apply,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson). “By requiring clearer information in job postings and better communication with applicants, this bill helps to make sure the hiring process is more transparent and respectful of the time and effort people put into finding work.”

Currently, there is a growing prevalence of “ghost jobs,” or listings that remain active despite the position being filled or the employers not actively hiring. In some cases, companies keep postings online to collect resumes for future openings or to give the impression of company growth, despite having no immediate hiring plans, thus misleading those seeking a job.