*A new report reveals a growing workplace issue called “ghost growth,” where employees are given extra responsibilities without corresponding pay, title changes, or advancement opportunities.
As CNBC reports, a My Perfect Resume survey of 1,000 U.S. workers found that nearly two-thirds have experienced this hollow form of career progress, leaving many feeling stagnant—48% say their careers have plateaued.
Career expert Jasmine Escalera explains that ghost growth “looks like success on paper” but fails to deliver real rewards. “They’ll give you something to make you feel content and to stick around,” she says, “but they won’t actually give you the title to represent the work that you’re doing, or the pay to represent the additional work that you’re taking on, or even the career progression you’re looking for.” Escalera, calls this pattern a “recipe for disaster” that harms morale and engagement.
The survey highlights the emotional toll: 24% of workers feel frustrated, 20% are burnt out, and 68% have considered quitting due to ghost growth. As Escalera notes, “It can’t just be, ‘Here’s a bunch of work we want you to do,’ and a pat on the back. That’s not enough.” Employees want higher pay (27%), improved work-life balance (18%), and opportunities for leadership (16%).
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Escalera warns that many workers feel “appeased” rather than genuinely heard. She believes these findings “should be a very big wake-up call” for employers, as staff “know what the deal is now” and recognize superficial advancement when they see it.
To counter ghost growth, Escalera advises managers to hold open discussions about employees’ career goals and to use career mapping tools to create clear, achievable growth paths.
“If you have someone who really wants to take on the additional work… you have to take that into account, and it can’t be something that you’re just divvying out to make them feel satisfied,” she says.
For employees, Escalera recommends gathering evidence of their contributions and preparing a case for a raise or promotion. If no real growth is possible, she suggests seeking new opportunities.
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