Two-thirds of employed adults say they have experienced what researchers are calling “ghost growth,” or career advancement in name only that does not include higher pay or real authority, according to a new survey.
The survey of 1,000 currently employed U.S. adults, conducted by MyPerfectResume in August 2025, found 65 per cent of respondents reported experiencing ghost growth. More than half said their careers appear to be progressing but do not feel like it.
Sixty-six per cent of workers believe their employer engages in what the survey calls “growth theater,” or performing support for career development without delivering actual outcomes.
“Superficial or slow career growth might check boxes on performance reviews, but it’s not fooling employees,” said career expert Jasmine Escalera. “Workers want meaningful progress, measured in compensation, career trajectory, and respect, not just tasks and titles.”
Expanded duties without compensation
Most workers reported taking on additional responsibilities without corresponding pay increases. Seventy-eight per cent said they have been assigned new duties without a raise or promotion.
Only 15 per cent said they received a raise in the past year that reflects their growing role. Thirty-five per cent said they have never been adequately compensated for an expanded workload.
Just over half of respondents said they have been promised promotions or opportunities that never materialized.
Emotional toll and turnover risk
The survey found ghost growth affects worker morale and retention. Twenty-three per cent of respondents said the experience made them feel frustrated, while 20 per cent reported feeling burned out.
Sixteen per cent said ghost growth motivated them to start job hunting, and 15 per cent said they feel disengaged from their jobs.
Sixty-eight per cent of workers said they have considered quitting due to fake or performative growth initiatives. Twenty-seven per cent said they actually left a job for that reason, while 41 per cent stayed but considered quitting.
Pressure to appear upwardly mobile
More than half of respondents said they feel pressure to look like they are growing professionally even when they are not. Nineteen per cent said that pressure comes from employers, 16 per cent from peers or social media, and 17 per cent from both sources.
Forty-nine per cent of workers said they believe they have hit a career plateau and their company is trying to mask it with superficial opportunities.
What workers want
When asked what real career growth looks like, 27 per cent of respondents said higher pay. Eighteen per cent identified better work-life balance as meaningful growth, while 16 per cent want leadership roles or a clear promotion path.
Fifteen per cent said they want to build new skills, and eight per cent said autonomy alone is sufficient.
The survey collected responses from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults who are currently employed. Respondents were evenly split by gender, with age distribution including 15 per cent aged 18 to 24, 20 per cent aged 25 to 34, 16 per cent aged 35 to 44, 15 per cent aged 45 to 54, 13 per cent aged 55 to 64, and 21 per cent aged 65 and older.
