Indeed’s Updated Job Visibility Policy: What Employers Need to Know

On August 19, 2024, Indeed announced a new job visibility policy for U.S. employers, affecting how jobs receive organic traffic on the platform. Under this policy, each job will only have organic visibility from one source—typically from an employer’s career site or applicant tracking system (ATS). If a client’s jobs are already indexed on Indeed, any job posted directly on Indeed will require sponsorship to receive visibility. Employers will no longer receive free traffic for both indexed and directly posted jobs.

This article provides an overview of these changes, recommended actions, and frequently asked questions.

In this article:
Overview of Indeed's Policy Changes
Recommended Actions for Employers
F.A.Q.
Additional Resources

Overview of Indeed's Policy Changes

Who is affected?

Employers who both:

• Have jobs indexed on Indeed from their ATS or career site.
• Post jobs directly on Indeed.

Key Policy Updates

• Improved Job Distribution: More predictable application flow for sponsored jobs.
• Budget Optimization: Ensuring job ads reach the right candidates efficiently.
• Reduced Free Job Visibility Over Time: Unpaid job postings that become less relevant will receive fewer applications.
• Elimination of Duplicate Job Posts: Prevents reposting abuse to maintain a high-trust job search experience.
• Enhanced Sponsored Job Features: Advanced tools to improve candidate attraction and job visibility.

Recommended Actions for Employers

Although no immediate action is required, employers should consider the following steps to optimize job visibility:

• Sponsor Job on Indeed: Use the Sponsored Job Integration or reach out to the Indeed Sales team for assistance
• Enable Key ATS Features:
  • Indeed Apply Sync: Improves the application process and ensures seamless candidate data transfer.
  • Disposition Sync: Helps fine-tune job matching and enhances visibility by sending hiring signals to Indeed.
  • Candidate Status Updates: Updating at least 50% of Indeed applicants triggers a Responsive Employer Badge, improving your employer brand.
• Follow Indeed's Job Posting Best Practices
• Review the recent Indeed initiative, Healthy Marketplace is an Indeed change that will impact all clients at all ATSs.
  • Include salary details → 75% of job seekers are more likely to apply when salary ranges are provided.
  • Specify job location → Jobs with precise locations (city, state, zip) see a 60% increase in apply starts.
  • Adhere to Indeed’s Policies → Avoid job post duplication and manipulation of search results.  Policies Regarding Reposted Content, Job Post Duplication, and Manipulation of Search Results

For more Job Boards' best practices refer to: Best Practices & Troubleshooting Job Postings

F.A.Q.

What are the key changes that impact job visibility on Indeed?

Indeed now limits organic visibility to one job source per employer. This change improves the candidate experience by preventing excessive reposting and ensuring job seekers engage with real opportunities.

How can employers ensure their jobs appear on Indeed?

If a job is no longer receiving organic visibility, the employer must sponsor the job to gain exposure.

Can reposting a job improve organic visibility?

No. Bulk automated reposting is prohibited and may result in visibility penalties. Employers should post jobs only when hiring needs arise and avoid using reposting to boost performance. For more information, see the policy details here or clients should reach out to their Indeed representative.

Is Indeed eliminating organic traffic entirely?

No. Employers can still receive organic traffic for indexed jobs. However, sponsored jobs will receive higher visibility and better applicant flow.

What should employers expect if they rely solely on organic job feeds?

Jobs that are not sponsored will experience limited visibility. Organic traffic is still available but will not perform as effectively as sponsored postings.

Can employers search for their own jobs on Indeed to check visibility?

No. Job search results are personalized for job seekers based on Indeed’s matching algorithms. Employers should use Indeed reporting and ATS analytics instead of searching manually.

Who should employers contact if they have concerns?

Employers should reach out to their Indeed representative for personalized guidance.

---

Additional Resources

For further assistance, contact the Indeed Integrations Delivery Team:

Email: [e-mail]
Indeed Support Form: Submit a request here.