A new report from data privacy firm Incogni has found that almost all leading job-search platforms are selling users' sensitive personal data to third parties — and most users are not aware of it. The report surveyed 1,000 US workers across nine leading job-search, recruitment, and professional networking platforms and reviewed their privacy policies and legal disclosures, according to the study.
Platform Rankings for Data Collection
Incogni's analysis ranked platforms based on their data collection and sharing practices. ZipRecruiter ranked highest, followed by Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and Monster in second and third place respectively. Incogni also noted that Microsoft has faced regulatory fines and lawsuits over privacy-related issues in the past.
| Platform | Rank | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| ZipRecruiter | 1st | Private |
| 2nd | Microsoft | |
| Monster | 3rd | Private |
User Awareness Gap
Despite the extensive data sharing, users largely remain in the dark. The survey found that 37% of respondents believe the platforms only share user data with potential employees. Nearly 50% said they only skim through privacy policies when uploading resumes, and 40% never delete the profiles they create on job-search platforms. A quarter of respondents do not remember all the platforms that have their data, and 34% uploaded their details to more than two platforms.
Scale of the Problem
Incogni highlighted that this issue affects millions of Americans. With 7.4 million people currently unemployed in the United States, 79.5% of job seekers rely on job-search sites as an essential resource, according to the company's analysis. The report underscores the risks associated with widespread data collection.
"It's hard to focus on data privacy when you are worried about putting food on the table, but our research suggests that there are real risks associated with these sites," said Darius Belejevas, head of Incogni. "Only 7% of our survey respondents expressed concern about sharing their personal information with job search platforms; that is a shocking indictment of the lack of education about privacy risk in the U.S."
Implications for Enterprise Security
For enterprise technology buyers and cybersecurity teams, the findings highlight the need for stricter data handling policies when employees use job-search platforms. The report's data reveals that sensitive personal information — including resumes, contact details, and employment history — is being monetized without transparency. Organizations should educate staff on privacy risks and encourage the use of dedicated recruitment channels or privacy-focused platforms to mitigate exposure. The low concern level (7%) suggests a broad education gap that enterprises can help close by integrating security awareness into their onboarding and continuing training programs.
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