/data/photo/2026/07/27/6a66d53892e76.png)
The Texas Attorney General’s office opened an investigation into LinkedIn on July 14, 2026, examining whether the professional networking platform displays “ghost jobs” to market and profit from its paid subscription services. Ken Paxton announced the probe, issuing a Civil Investigative Demand for internal documents, data, and marketing communications regarding the platform’s job listings and Premium tiers.
## The Investigation Into Premium Subscriptions and Ghost Jobs
According to the Texas Attorney General’s office, the inquiry centers on whether LinkedIn misleads subscribers by promoting paid plans while failing to verify whether listed jobs are actively available. The platform offers two primary tiers: Premium Career at 39,99 dollar AS (sekitar Rp 719.500) per bulan and Premium Business seharga 69,99 dollar AS (sekitar Rp 1,2 juta) per bulan.
Investigators are scrutinizing data on how LinkedIn advertises these subscriptions, which are marketed to help users secure employment. Paxton stated that the office is examining whether consumers who pay for the service actually receive access to legitimate, open roles or if they encounter inactive listings.
## Understanding the Prevalence of Ghost Jobs
Ghost jobs refer to vacancies that companies keep online despite not actively hiring for them. Studies cited by the Texas Attorney General’s office estimate that roughly one-fifth to one-third of online job listings fall into this category.
The investigation highlights a core issue in digital recruitment: the lack of independent verification for job statuses. Because platforms often ingest listings without verifying if a hiring manager intends to fill the role, users searching for work encounter expired or speculative postings. For paying subscribers, this friction undermines the value proposition of premium career tools.
## LinkedIn Responds to Allegations
LinkedIn has defended its platform against the state’s inquiries. A company spokesperson told Fox Business that all job listings on the site must be authentic and accurate.
According to LinkedIn, the company deploys automated systems and manual reviews to catch and remove policy violations. The spokesperson emphasized that the platform continues to invest in new verification features for job postings, recruiters, and company pages.
The Civil Investigative Demand marks an investigative step, and no official lawsuits or formal legal charges have been filed against the company as the review continues.
Did you know? Independent recruitment studies indicate that online job postings may be ghost jobs that companies leave active for talent pooling or brand visibility rather than immediate hiring.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What triggered the investigation into LinkedIn?
The Texas Attorney General’s office opened the probe over concerns that LinkedIn promotes “ghost jobs” while selling paid Premium subscriptions to job seekers.
### How much do LinkedIn Premium subscriptions cost?
LinkedIn offers a Premium Career tier priced at 39,99 dollar AS (sekitar Rp 719.500) per bulan and a Premium Business tier priced at seharga 69,99 dollar AS (sekitar Rp 1,2 juta) per bulan.
### Has LinkedIn been sued by Texas?
No. The office issued a Civil Investigative Demand for documents and data, but no formal lawsuit or legal charges have been filed.
### How does LinkedIn detect fake job listings?
According to a company spokesperson, LinkedIn uses a combination of automated systems and manual reviews, alongside verification tools for recruiters and company pages.