Why Finding a Job Feels Impossible Right Now And How You Can Find One

There are 9 million open jobs in the U.S. right now. Politicians love to say the economy’s booming. So why does it feel impossible to land a job?

I’ve helped three friends recently land real jobs—good ones. In this breakdown, I’m going to show you four reasons the job market is stacked against you, and then walk you through the exact five-step process that worked for them. Let's cut through the noise.

Reason 1: Misleading Job Data

You’ve probably heard the unemployment rate is 3.7%. Sounds great, right?

But here's the truth: that number is BS.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics only counts someone as “unemployed” if they’re actively looking for work and available to start right now. So if you’ve been job-hunting for months, burned out, and take a break? You’re suddenly not unemployed anymore—statistically, you just vanish.

This data also ignores entire groups: students, people with disabilities, retirees, caregivers, and active military. That’s nearly 40% of the population.

This false optimism feeds a toxic narrative. My neighbor—a QA engineer—was laid off after getting his life together. New apartment, new furniture, solid career. Then boom—out of work. He’s been applying like crazy and hearing nothing back, while headlines scream 'best job market ever.'

So what's actually going on?

Reason 2: Ghost Job Postings

A 2023 survey confirmed it: companies are posting jobs they have no intention of filling. No interviews. No callbacks. Nothing.

They’re called ghost jobs.

Some companies do this to stockpile resumes, building a pipeline in case someone quits. Others do it for something worse—market intelligence. Every time you apply, you're handing over valuable information: your skills, salary expectations, past employers. They're using that data to make decisions about pay scales and industry demand.

Fractal, a digital marketing firm, openly admitted to this. They kept associate-level job postings live even when they weren’t hiring—just because turnover is high.

This means people like my neighbor are spending hours a day applying to jobs that don’t even exist. It’s a game you can’t win.

Mentions of ghosting are up 77% since February 2020. And it’s only getting worse.

Reason 3: The Wrong Jobs Are Available

Yes, there are jobs out there—but are they jobs worth taking?

Walk down any street and you’ll see Help Wanted signs. Mostly at gas stations, fast food joints, and retail stores. But if you’re looking for something that matches your skills, offers benefits, and pays enough to live on? Good luck.

41% of job seekers say they can’t find openings in their industry. And nearly half—46%—say the only jobs they can find pay too little.

Why? Leverage.

Companies know more people are looking for work than there are roles available, so they lowball offers. And let’s be honest—taking a low-wage job that barely covers rent isn’t always better than holding out for something that makes sense.

This is where opportunity cost comes in. Every hour you spend stocking shelves could be an hour building a real opportunity. In some cases, taking a bad job is worse than staying unemployed.

Reason 4: Recruiting Is Completely Broken

You’ve probably used LinkedIn, Indeed, or ZipRecruiter. Fill out a profile. Attach your resume. Click Apply.

The same thing thousands of other applicants are doing.

Because of the flood of spam applications, companies now use AI to screen resumes. A 2023 study found that up to 75% of resumes never even get seen by a human.

Qualified or not—it doesn’t matter. The AI filters everyone.

And even if you do make it past the AI, you might never stand a chance. Why? Because many roles are already filled before they’re posted.

Elliot Garlock, a recruiter at Stella Talent Partners, said it himself—companies often have someone in mind before the job goes live. It’s just a formality.

And here’s the kicker: a 2014 study found referrals account for 30–50% of hires. If you get referred, your chance of getting hired jumps by 40%.

Translation: if you don’t know someone inside, you’re playing a rigged game.

So What Can You Do?

Here's the five-step process I shared with three friends who all landed jobs. It's not about applying harder—it’s about applying smarter.

The Harsh Truth—and What’s Next

You might be doing everything right and still feel stuck. That’s normal. That’s the system.

But you can change your odds.

No fluff. No false hope. Just strategy.