Analysis of over 8.8 million online job adverts in the United Kingdom has found that it takes an average of 40 days to fill a vacancy, with each role attracting 72 applications. These figures come from research by SmartRecruiters, the recruiting AI company. The research also shows that despite receiving 72 applications per job post, only 4.3 per cent of candidates are invited to interview, with 1.1 per cent ultimately receiving job offers.
In terms of the recruitment process, the data shows that job applications on average, are reviewed in 7 days, with interviews taking place 15 days after applications are received.
The research examined 89 million job applications across Australia, France, Germany, United States, and the United Kingdom. According to the study, only 84 per cent of job offers are accepted, with 10 per cent of jobs being filled through internal hiring processes.
Rebecca Carr, CEO of SmartRecruiters said: “The way that British businesses manage talent acquisition continues to evolve. There is increasing adoption of AI to streamline the process, making it more efficient and effective, ensuring that the candidate experience reflects the employer’s values, while being compliant with employment legislation.”
Carr says that British businesses are ahead of Australia, France and North America in terms of filling posts through internal recruitment. This practice often offers a lower risk and cost-effective route of recruiting and talent management.
The study is part of SmartRecruiters’ newly established annual hiring benchmark report, which will provide year-over-year insights into hiring trends, recruitment efficiency, and internal mobility across key global markets. SmartRecruiters analysed 12 months of aggregated, anonymised application data processed through its applicant tracking system from September 2023 through August 2024.
