[Jane Long]

Why are they doing this?

[cgbg]

One alleged reason is the tactic is used to convince existing employees that they are a successful and growing company—when in fact they are in dire financial straits.

They don’t want the rats fleeing the sinking ship too early.

[political1]

If you respond to the job sites they have your email and phone number. They then sell the information to companies who want real contacts.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The stated reason is that they are trying to build up a store of resumes.

This is nonsense.

A year down the road that person will be gone.

Some people suspect it is to make it look like there are more jobs so the unemployment numbers look good.

That is possible.

The other possibility is that they are looking to replace someone currently employed when they find someone better and cheaper.

Also possible.

They are giving the HR busy work to keep them from crashing the company with stupid policies.

No comment.

[TECTopcat]

This is a real thing and has been done for a while by large corporations for two reasons:

To keep their “spot” with college campus recruiters
and to build a bench or pool of candidates should they then need to hire .

[pas]

Who is claiming there are more jobs than job seekers.

[Leaning Right]

I’ll add to the list: Sometimes a company will post a fake job listing just to make it look like they’re casting a really a wide net. When in reality, the job has already been informally filled by somebody’s relative.

This happened to a friend of mine. He drove 400 miles for a job interview. He aced the interview, and was asked to come back in a week for a second, more in-depth interview.

As he was leaving the building, a member of the search committee stopped him. Don’t drive back, he was told. The job is filled. We just needed to interview a few more people to make it look good.

[Political Junkie Too]

I know a partner at a small financial investment firm who told me that they always have a job posted even though they aren't actively looking for employees. They do it just in case a star candidate comes knocking.

They won't turn away a very good candidate, but they're not looking for an average job seeker.

-PJ

[newnhdad]

Data collection.

[thescourged1]

Also to fool current and prospective shareholders into thinking the company is going strong and hiring.

[TiGuy22]

They want to put or promote existing people to positions but have to say they looked for a DEI candidate.

[outofsalt]

A good many job postings are phishing scams. You believe you’re applying for a job, and they get your information for identity theft.

[central_va]

So they can import a foreign national on a H-1b visa thus fulfilling the need to “post a job” and they couldn’t find an American to do it.