Candidate ghosting
Ghosting happens on both sides of the hiring process. More than half (53%) of surveyed job seekers said an employer had stopped responding in the past year, up from about 48%. In a separate survey, 88% of HR professionals reported losing contact with a candidate during hiring.
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At a glance
The surveys show how frequently communication breaks down during hiring. More than half (53%) of job seekers say an employer ghosted them in the past year, up from about 48%. In a separate survey, 88% of HR professionals reported losing contact with a candidate during hiring.
Greenhouse reported a 26% increase in recruiter workload from the third quarter of 2023 through the third quarter of 2024.
- 88%
- of surveyed HR professionals reported losing contact with a candidate during hiring, according to LiveCareer.
- 53%
- of surveyed job seekers reported employer ghosting in the previous year, compared with about 48% a year earlier, according to Criteria Corp.
What the surveys found
In hiring, ghosting means that a candidate or employer stops responding. Criteria Corp's 2026 Candidate Experience Report found that 53% of surveyed job seekers had experienced employer ghosting in the previous year, compared with about 48% the year before. That was the highest reported level in three years. iHire found that 53% of surveyed job seekers had experienced employer ghosting at some point.
In LiveCareer's survey, 88% of HR professionals reported losing contact with a candidate during hiring, and 71% said candidate ghosting had become more common over the previous year. SHRM's Talent Trends research also identifies candidate withdrawals as a recruiting challenge, alongside qualified-applicant shortages and competition for talent.
Candidate Ghosting Prevention Kit, $49
A hiring communication schedule, ready-to-use templates, and follow-up checkpoints from application through decision.
When employers stop responding
In iHire's survey, the largest share of reported employer ghosting happened immediately after application. Start with an application acknowledgment that confirms receipt and tells candidates what to expect next.
| When employers stopped responding, iHire survey | Share |
|---|---|
| Right after an application | around 28% |
| After a first interview | about 20% |
| After an initial phone screen | roughly 16% |
What employers report about candidate ghosting
Higher application volumes and recruiter workloads make consistent candidate follow-up harder. Greenhouse data reported by UNLEASH showed a 26% increase in recruiter workload from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. In LiveCareer's survey, HR professionals identified reasons they believed candidates stopped responding. Two practical improvements stand out: clearer communication and faster hiring decisions.
| Reasons candidates stop responding, reported by HR professionals in the LiveCareer survey | Share |
|---|---|
| Unclear communication from the employer | around 54% |
| A better offer elsewhere | about 42% |
| A long or frustrating hiring process | roughly 39% |
| Second thoughts about the role | about 27% |
Give candidates a clear timeline
Tell candidates the date of their next update. Send an automated acknowledgment when they apply, set a response deadline for every screened candidate, and confirm the next update date after each interview. Schedule interviews promptly and make decisions while candidates are still considering the opportunity. When the timeline changes, send an update.
The way your company communicates during hiring shapes the candidate experience. It may also influence what candidates share on social media and review sites.
Track candidate withdrawals, time to fill, and the cost of each unfilled day. These measures can help identify hiring delays and show where faster responses would make the greatest difference.
Research and sources
Five sources reviewed | Checked 7 October 2026
- iHire, State of Online Recruiting and ghosting survey. Source for 53% of surveyed job seekers having experienced employer ghosting, and the stage breakdown from a survey of more than 1,000 candidates in October 2025. ihire.com. .
- Criteria Corp, 2026 Candidate Experience Report. Source for 53% of surveyed job seekers reporting employer ghosting in the previous year, compared with about 48% a year earlier. criteriacorp.com. .
- LiveCareer, Candidate Ghosting and AI Report. Source for 88% of surveyed HR professionals reporting lost contact with a candidate, 71% reporting a worsening trend, and reasons cited by more than 900 HR professionals surveyed in March 2025. livecareer.com. .
- SHRM, Talent Trends. Source for candidate withdrawals, qualified-applicant shortages, and competition among recruiting challenges. shrm.org. .
- Greenhouse recruiter workload data, reported by UNLEASH in December 2024. Source for the reported 26% workload increase between the third quarters of 2023 and 2024. unleash.ai, Greenhouse job seeker research. .
Common questions
How often does candidate ghosting happen?
Criteria Corp found that 53% of surveyed job seekers had experienced employer ghosting in the previous year, compared with about 48% the year before. iHire reported that 53% had experienced it at some point. LiveCareer found that 88% of surveyed HR professionals had lost contact with a candidate, and 71% reported that candidate ghosting had become more common.
When are employers most likely to stop responding?
In iHire's survey, the largest reported share of employer ghosting occurred immediately after application, at around 28%. About 20% occurred after a first interview and roughly 16% after an initial phone screen.
Why do HR professionals think candidates stop responding?
In LiveCareer's survey of HR professionals, around 54% cited unclear employer communication, about 42% cited a better offer, roughly 39% cited a long or frustrating process, and about 27% cited second thoughts about the role.
How can employers reduce candidate ghosting?
A reliable communication schedule helps. Set a response date for every hiring stage and deliver the promised updates. Acknowledge applications automatically, tell screened candidates when they will hear back, and share a timeline after interviews. Keep decisions moving and communicate changes promptly. Together, these steps give candidates clearer updates and support faster hiring decisions.
Tools for the next step
A hiring communication schedule, ready-to-use templates, and follow-up checkpoints from application through decision.
$49
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