diff --git a/app/parsers/concerns/bulkrax/csv_parser/csv_validation.rb b/app/parsers/concerns/bulkrax/csv_parser/csv_validation.rb
index f705c35a..892e4754 100644
--- a/app/parsers/concerns/bulkrax/csv_parser/csv_validation.rb
+++ b/app/parsers/concerns/bulkrax/csv_parser/csv_validation.rb
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def validate_csv(csv_file:, zip_file: nil, admin_set_id: nil) # rubocop:disable
           # 7. Header-level checks
           missing_required = find_missing_required_headers(headers, field_metadata, mapping_manager)
           unrecognized     = find_unrecognized_validation_headers(headers, valid_headers)
+          empty_columns    = find_empty_column_positions(headers, raw_csv)
 
           # 8. Row-level validators
           parent_split      = resolve_parent_split_pattern(mappings)
@@ -82,12 +83,13 @@ def validate_csv(csv_file:, zip_file: nil, admin_set_id: nil) # rubocop:disable
           row_errors  = validator_context[:errors]
           has_errors  = missing_required.any? || headers.blank? || csv_data.empty? ||
                         file_validator.missing_files.any? || row_errors.any?
-          has_warnings = unrecognized.any? || file_validator.possible_missing_files?
+          has_warnings = unrecognized.any? || empty_columns.any? || file_validator.possible_missing_files?
 
           result = {
             headers: headers,
             missingRequired: missing_required,
             unrecognized: unrecognized,
+            emptyColumns: empty_columns,
             rowCount: csv_data.length,
             isValid: !has_errors,
             hasWarnings: has_warnings,
@@ -177,10 +179,18 @@ def find_missing_required_headers(headers, field_metadata, mapping_manager)
         def find_unrecognized_validation_headers(headers, valid_headers)
           checker = DidYouMean::SpellChecker.new(dictionary: valid_headers)
           headers
-            .reject { |h| valid_headers.include?(h) || valid_headers.include?(h.sub(/_\d+\z/, '')) }
+            .reject { |h| h.blank? || valid_headers.include?(h) || valid_headers.include?(h.sub(/_\d+\z/, '')) }
             .index_with { |h| checker.correct(h).first }
         end
 
+        def find_empty_column_positions(headers, raw_csv)
+          headers.each_with_index.filter_map do |h, i|
+            next if h.present?
+            has_data = raw_csv.any? { |row| row.fields[i].present? }
+            i + 1 if has_data
+          end
+        end
+
         def resolve_parent_split_pattern(mappings)
           split_val = mappings.dig('parents', 'split') || mappings.dig(:parents, :split)
           return nil if split_val.blank?
diff --git a/app/services/bulkrax/stepper_response_formatter.rb b/app/services/bulkrax/stepper_response_formatter.rb
index 67eda55b..cc56d281 100644
--- a/app/services/bulkrax/stepper_response_formatter.rb
+++ b/app/services/bulkrax/stepper_response_formatter.rb
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def already_formatted?
     def build_messages
       issues = []
       issues << missing_required_issue if @data[:missingRequired]&.any?
-      issues << unrecognized_fields_issue if @data[:unrecognized]&.any?
+      issues << unrecognized_fields_issue if @data[:unrecognized]&.any? || @data[:emptyColumns]&.any?
       issues << file_references_issue if @data[:fileReferences]&.positive?
       issues << row_errors_issue if @data[:rowErrors]&.any?
 
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def build_messages
     # @return [Hash] Validation status with severity, icon, title, summary, details
     def validation_status
       severity, icon, title = determine_severity_level
-      recognized = @data[:headers] - (@data[:unrecognized].keys || [])
+      recognized = @data[:headers].reject(&:blank?) - (@data[:unrecognized].keys || [])
 
       {
         severity: severity,
@@ -206,22 +206,27 @@ def missing_required_issue
     #
     # @return [Hash] Unrecognized fields issue structure
     def unrecognized_fields_issue
+      all_items = unrecognized_fields_issue_items
       {
         type: 'unrecognized_fields',
         severity: 'warning',
         icon: 'fa-exclamation-triangle',
         title: I18n.t('bulkrax.importer.guided_import.validation.unrecognized_title'),
-        count: @data[:unrecognized].length,
+        count: all_items.length,
         description: I18n.t('bulkrax.importer.guided_import.validation.unrecognized_desc'),
-        items: unrecognized_fields_issue_items,
+        items: all_items,
         defaultOpen: false
       }
     end
 
     def unrecognized_fields_issue_items
-      @data[:unrecognized].partition(&:last)
-                          .flatten(1)
-                          .map { |field| { field: field.first, message: field.last ? I18n.t('bulkrax.importer.guided_import.validation.did_you_mean', suggestion: field.last) : nil } }
+      named = (@data[:unrecognized] || {}).partition(&:last)
+              .flatten(1)
+              .map { |field| { field: field.first, message: field.last ? I18n.t('bulkrax.importer.guided_import.validation.did_you_mean', suggestion: field.last) : nil } }
+      empty = (@data[:emptyColumns] || []).map do |col|
+        { field: I18n.t('bulkrax.importer.guided_import.validation.empty_column', column: col), message: nil }
+      end
+      named + empty
     end
 
     # Format file references issue
diff --git a/config/locales/bulkrax.en.yml b/config/locales/bulkrax.en.yml
index 4093c67e..a39529f3 100644
--- a/config/locales/bulkrax.en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/bulkrax.en.yml
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ en:
               message: "Field '%{field}' is required but is empty for this row."
               suggestion: "Add a value for '%{field}'."
           unable_to_process: Unable to process files for validation
+          empty_column: 'Column %{column} (no header)'
           unrecognized_desc: 'These columns will be ignored during import:'
           unrecognized_title: Unrecognized Fields
       validations: