The “Ghost Growth” Workplace Trend Will Steal Your Time, Your Energy, and Your Raise

Congratulations! You’ve crushed your year, and your company is ready to hand you more responsibility. Logically, you might assume a formal promotion or at least a small raise is on the horizon, but nope. You’re waiting… and waiting… and waiting for either one. Now, you’re Googling why it hasn’t happened yet, and thus, stumbling into this article. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone, and this isn’t some workplace folklore. It’s a very real promotional limbo that’s currently haunting many corners of the workplace, better known as “ghost growth.”

People are noticing patterns in their careers that feel frustratingly familiar: extra responsibilities, bigger projects, yet nothing material or meaningful actually shifts with their jobs. And it’s happening to an increasing number of employees. In fact, a recent survey by MyPerfectResume revealed that 78 percent of workers felt they had been assigned new responsibilities without any corresponding raises or promotions. Ghost Growth is a quiet, insidious pattern that is leaving employees exhausted, undervalued, and unsure where they really stand at their jobs.

The trend is undoubtedly frustrating, but even more so, it’s wildly concerning. Ahead, we’re breaking down why the “ghost growth” trend might be so widespread, how to spot the signs it’s happening to you, and—most importantly—how to avoid getting stuck in it.

What is “ghost growth”?

Ghost growth creates this illusion of career momentum, maybe even a brief dopamine boost of empowerment—but nothing concrete is really changing with your job. No raise. No promotion. Just more tasks on your to-do list without anything real to show for it. On a Zoom call, you might hear your boss say you’ve been “awarded more leadership opportunities” or a shiny new project—and for a moment, it may even sound flattering. It genuinely might be, too… at first. But then reality sets in, and the promotion you assumed was coming with it (“eventually,” you tell yourself) never does. You’re still in the same role, doing more work—but it’s not exactly moving your career forward. You’re gaining “experience,” sure, but nothing physical you can point to that proves the growth is real. Then suddenly, that momentum starts to feel a lot more like standing still.

“78 percent of workers felt they had been assigned new responsibilities without any corresponding raises or promotions.”

While it is common for a lot of companies to ask employees to step up during busy periods—and that flexibility can even help boost your reputation at work when done sparingly—the problem arises when those extra responsibilities become your new normal. Peter Duris, CEO and Founder of AI-based career tool Kickresume, puts it simply, saying, “Sometimes, employees step up to tackle unexpected problems or heavier workloads, which can be rewarding in the short term… but when that expectation becomes constant, it starts to feel unappreciated.” It’s a subtle burn. And the even sneakier part is that it might barely feel noticeable at first, until you look behind you and realize how little ground you’ve covered.

How “ghost growth” affects employees

Ghost growth creates a very confusing dynamic for employees. Things might look like progress when they are given bigger responsibilities from their employer, but it’s not clear what their job description actually is. Meaning, employees are left trying to decode whether they are actually moving forward in their careers. Without any real reward for progress, over time, these fake promotions begin quietly draining ambition, morale, and career momentum—a surefire track to burnout.

Why is “ghost growth” so common right now?

Budget pressures from companies

Part of the reason the ghost growth trend feels so loud is that companies are still putting themselves under tight budget constraints due to economic uncertainties. In fact, a Payscale report released earlier this year found that 66 percent of organizations say economic uncertainty is limiting their ability to offer raises next year. So, instead of handing out advancements for workers, employers try to boost morale by offering new titles, bigger responsibilities, and “stretch” assignments—but without the pay, authority, or structural change that typically comes with it. No one’s necessarily trying to deceive anyone—it’s more that companies are unsure about the state of the world, just like the rest of us. But the ways they are trying to compensate while still keeping people motivated are obviously not working.

Employees are eager for progress

Young workers in particular want to see visible progress from their careers—Deloitte’s recent 2025 survey found that things like mentorship and developing new skills are top priorities for Gen Z workers. Because of this ethos, many young workers end up tolerating a promotion limbo with hopes that the extra responsibilities will eventually lead somewhere. Instead, that “somewhere” keeps getting pushed further and further out. And with little pushback from employees, this is leading employees into cycles of being stretched thin and burning out.

“Without any real reward for progress, over time, these fake promotions begin quietly draining ambition, morale, and career momentum.”

Flattened org structures

With leaner teams becoming the new company norm (hello, great shrinking), there are simply fewer seats at the table when it comes to promotions. So with nowhere for a lot of employees to move up, the only form of growth available for a lot of junior-level employees is added responsibilities. Basically, you find yourself killing it by leading those projects, mentoring teammates, and doing all of the manager-level work, but without ever officially being one.

Key characteristics of “ghost growth”

If you have a suspicion that ghost growth has crept into your career (or could soon), here are some of the key symptoms to look out for:

1. You have new responsibilities, but no formal promotion

Maybe you’ve been handed a fancy new title or leadership-like responsibilities—but there’s still no raise, no formal promotion, or no real authority to match the extra work you’ve been handed. As a girl trying to retire her people-pleaser tendencies, I will admit it, it can be flattering when someone notices me and trusts me with more. But if the job description keeps expanding without any physical advancements, it’s a red flag that what you’ve been given might just be an illusion of any real progress.

2. You’re “next in line” for a promotion—but have no clear timeline

This symptom might be more subtle, but it can be just as telling. If you’re constantly being told you’re “next in line” for a promotion, yet no timeline for that promotion is ever shared with you, it is a red flag. Without any clarity or actionable steps, this can be perceived as a sign of ghost growth. Your career looks like it’s moving forward because you’ve been told it is, but when will it really? No one knows.

“It might feel like you’re getting closer to the top, but in reality, taking on these higher-level roles and responsibilities isn’t earning you a better seat at the table—or the pay to match your output.”

3. You’re managing bigger projects without any authority recognition

Taking on bigger projects or training new hires, for example, can offer very valuable experiences and look quite impressive on that resume update. But without an official promotion, it doesn’t really move your career forward. Not really. Your colleagues might just view you as a peer who has a little more say over an initiative, but not anyone with any real influence. It might feel like you’re getting closer to the top, but in reality, taking on these higher-level roles and responsibilities isn’t earning you a better seat at the table—or the pay to match your output.

4. You’ve hit a standstill, but are still being told you’re “growing”

Being told you’re “growing” by your manager can feel encouraging. But put in the context of ghost growth, it also can be perceived as a way to keep you motivated, without actually advancing your career. If this is a trend you’re noticing, it’s worth paying attention to. It’s OK to hear in small doses, but without concrete steps toward that promotion or raise, it can quietly stall your career more than you think.

How to stop “ghost growth” from affecting your career

According to Duris, it’s time to decide what you actually want from your career. “Reflect on where you’d like to be in five years,” said Duris. “What kind of responsibilities would you like to take on—are they similar to what you’re being asked to do now?” Then, keep track of the extra work you have taken on—projects, responsibilities, measurable impacts—so you have clear receipts to share with your manager when it comes time to ask for a formal raise or promotion. As far as knowing when to make that ask, Duris suggested using new responsibilities as your trigger. If your role has expanded—and that paycheck hasn’t—that is your cue. Set a time to follow up on your progress with your manager and verbalize what you need to feel valued.

Duris also emphasized the importance of not letting yourself be taken advantage of. AKA: Frequent unpaid overtime, high-stress tasks above your pay grade, or juggling multiple roles. This is unsustainable. And if you’re a recovering people-pleaser like me, this sentence can be especially tough to read. But learning to say no or push back is crucial to avoiding burnout and the ghost growth cycle altogether. The boundaries don’t always have to be dramatic either. Instead of an outright “NO,” try reframing and respond with something like: “I can take this on, but what should I deprioritize in order to have the capacity?”

Duris warns that trying to do it all is a surefire route to burnout. And if no promotion is on the horizon, or set boundaries are being ignored, your next step might be looking for a new job altogether. Just because your current employer isn’t ready to reward your growth doesn’t mean another job will do the same. Add those added responsibilities to your resume, and flex them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madigan Will, Assistant Editor

As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.

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