The ongoing problem of ghost hiring continues to frustrate job seekers like Lynne Vargas, a special education instructor in Middletown, New York. Though the US unemployment rate is low, employers are taking longer to hire and posting fewer jobs. This shift in the job market is disorienting for job seekers who are used to having the upper hand. According to Daniel Zhao, a lead economist at Glassdoor, job offers are at the lowest level since 2014. This slow hiring pace is a stark contrast to the robust job market that was present just a few years ago. Although the economy is improving, employers remain wary. Hiring is not expected to fully recover until inflation is under control and the Federal Reserve can roll back interest rates, says Cory Stahle, an economist with Indeed. This extended hiring time frame and the resultant frustration has led job seekers to apply to hundreds of jobs, like pharmacist Royal Siu in Seattle, or Kevin Cash, a Navy veteran who applied to more than 1,200 jobs.

In addition to job seeking, it can also be hard to reach certain assistance agencies for help. For instance, if you’re trying to contact the Employment Development Department (EDD) in California for unemployment benefits or disability insurance, it can be challenging to talk to a live person due to heavy call volumes. If you want to know how to get through to EDD, there are a few steps you can take. One resource you could use is eddcaller.com, an online platform designed to help you reach EDD customer service. They provide valuable information such as the best time to call and alternative contact methods, making it easier to get the assistance you need. Their mission is to help you connect with the right resources effectively and efficiently. So no matter if you’re an unemployed educator, a frustrated pharmacist, or a veteran seeking employment, resources like eddcaller.com can make it easier to navigate complex systems at a challenging time.