Facebook brings back Jobs listings with a local twist

Meta is once again expanding Facebook’s capabilities — this time by reintroducing job listings to the platform. The move marks a revival of a feature first launched in 2017 and later discontinued, signaling the company’s renewed interest in connecting people with employment opportunities, particularly in local and entry-level sectors.

The new version of Facebook Jobs is designed with simplicity and community engagement in mind. According to Meta, the feature focuses on roles that cater to local businesses, service industries, and trade work — the kind of jobs often filled through word of mouth or community connections. Listings will appear in a dedicated tab within Facebook’s Marketplace, a section already known for buying, selling, and neighborhood interactions.

But Meta isn’t stopping there. Job listings may also appear in relevant Facebook Groups, which have long served as hubs for local networking, recommendations, and small-scale commerce. Businesses can post their own openings directly through their Facebook Pages, giving them a convenient way to reach nearby job seekers without relying on paid ads or external job boards.

The company has set some clear boundaries around who can use the feature. Only users aged 18 and above can view or apply for jobs, and all postings must comply with Facebook’s content and community standards. Unsurprisingly, listings for adult services or drugs are not allowed. Interestingly, even in-person childcare is excluded — a curious decision given that many local Facebook groups thrive precisely on informal childcare exchanges and nanny recommendations.

This isn’t Facebook’s first foray into the job market. The company originally introduced job listings eight years ago in the United States and Canada, later expanding to more than 40 countries in 2018. The effort seemed promising at first, but by 2022, Facebook scaled back support to just North America before discontinuing the program entirely in 2023. Despite the shutdown, users could still post informal job ads as standard Marketplace listings or paid advertisements — though this often led to controversy.

In several instances, advertisers were found using Facebook’s advanced targeting tools to exclude users based on gender, age, or religious affiliation, effectively discriminating in hiring practices. These revelations prompted significant backlash and regulatory scrutiny, forcing Meta to tighten its policies on ad targeting. The company now stresses that the revived job posting system comes with strict anti-discrimination rules, ensuring equal visibility for all eligible users.

The new rollout of Facebook Jobs, which officially launches today, is available exclusively in the United States for now. Meta has not yet shared details about international expansion but is likely taking a measured approach to test engagement and compliance before scaling up globally.