Across the country, public agencies are posting jobs that should attract attention, yet applications are trickling in, if they come at all.

In a NEOGOV analysis of over 45 million public-sector applications, half of the postings in 2023 received only about 4–5.5 applicants per job on average and that’s before factoring in the number of qualified candidates. This suggests the challenge isn’t just about openings; it’s about visibility and candidate engagement in a changing job market.

What’s changed isn’t the commitment of public employers or the importance of the work. What’s changed is candidate behavior.

Since 2020, job seekers (especially experienced, passive candidates) no longer “check job boards” as a routine habit. They discover opportunities through email digests, job alerts, peer sharing, and targeted platforms that surface roles for them. In other words, many strong candidates never look for your job posting. They wait for it to appear where they already are.

This is why reposting often feels ineffective. Reposting—refreshing the same job announcement on the same platform in hopes of attracting new applicants—doesn’t expand reach; it simply shows the same post to the same limited audience. And while competitive pay still matters, it doesn’t solve a visibility problem. Candidates can’t apply for jobs they never see.

The result is a quiet disconnect: agencies believe jobs are visible because they’re posted, while candidates assume the lack of listings they see means opportunities are limited. Both sides miss each other entirely.

The takeaway

Recruiting challenges today are less about labor shortages and more about distribution gaps. Visibility—not effort—is often the missing piece.

One specific action to take this week

Pick one hard-to-fill position and look at it from a candidate’s perspective. Ask: If I weren’t actively job hunting, where would I realistically encounter this posting? If the answer is limited to your website or a single platform, you’ve found the problem.

Review active postings on myNPSJ.com

You don’t need dashboards or hit counts to spot a visibility problem—often, it’s obvious just by looking at which jobs stand out and which ones disappear into the scroll. To see where public-sector candidates are discovering jobs right now, take a few minutes to review active postings on Nationwide Public Sector Jobs. Look at how different agencies present roles, time their postings, and reach candidates beyond a single channel.

For many agencies, that perspective is the first step toward turning posted jobs into filled positions.

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Nationwide Public Sector Jobs (myNPSJ.com) is used by public agencies across the country to improve job visibility. Discounts available for longer listings and package purchases. Have additional questions or need help? Email us at info@mynpsj.com