The Psychology Behind Candidate Ghosting
The Psychology Behind Candidate Ghosting | Apticareers Candidate ghosting is at an all-time high. In 2026, 53% of job seekers were ghosted by an employer at some point in the past year. And 44% of candidates admit to doing the same thing back. That last number is the one most hiring teams do not want to sit with. Because it means the problem is no longer one-sided. Candidates are not disappearing because they are disorganised or rude. They are disappearing because the hiring process, over time, has taught them that silence is acceptable. Understanding why that happens is more useful than simply trying to stop it. At APTI Careers, we work with both recruiters and candidates through AI-led interview processes, and we see the ghosting pattern from both sides of the table. Here is what the psychology actually looks like, and what it means for hiring teams in 2026. ...