How many applications does it take to get hired?

CareerPlug's 2024 report shows employers received an average of 69 applicants per hire across industries.

What percent of applicants get interviews?

CareerPlug reports that only 2% of applicants move to interviews on average.

How long does hiring usually take?

Time-to-hire varies by industry. CareerPlug reports averages like 17.4 days in automotive and 8.5 days in restaurant roles.

Do job boards produce hires?

Job boards generate the most applicants (60.6%) but account for just 37% of hires in CareerPlug's data.

What can job seekers do with these stats?

Use them to set realistic application targets, move quickly, and tailor resumes to boost interview conversion.

Job Application Benchmarks

Job Application Statistics and Time-to-Hire Benchmarks

Name: ScoutApply
Author: ScoutApply

Benchmarks from CareerPlug's 2024 Recruiting Metrics Report show an average of 69 applicants per hire, with only 2% of applicants reaching interviews. Use these stats to calibrate your application volume and timing.

Last updated: January 2026

Core application funnel benchmarks

CareerPlug analyzed over 10 million applications from small businesses to map conversion rates and applicant volume.

Metric	Benchmark	Source
Job applications analyzed (2023)	10 million	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report
Average click-to-apply conversion	5%	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report
Average applicants per hire	69	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report
Applicant-to-interview conversion	2%	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report
Interview-to-hire conversion	36%	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report
Job boards share of applicants vs hires	60.6% applicants, 37% hires	CareerPlug Recruiting Metrics Report

Industry examples: applicants per hire and time-to-hire

CareerPlug reports industry-level benchmarks that show how hiring speed and applicant volume vary by sector.

Industry	Applicants per hire	Avg. days to hire
Automotive	212	17.4
Cleaning Services	233	16.2
Restaurant & Food Service	30	8.5

Source: CareerPlug 2024 Recruiting Metrics Report.

What these numbers imply for job seekers

Expect high volume: average 69 applicants per hire.
Only 2% of applicants reach interviews, so tailoring is critical.
Hiring speed varies by industry, ranging from ~8 to 17 days.

Tips to beat the averages

Apply quickly with a tailored resume and cover letter.
Use direct employer pages when possible for higher hire rates.
Track applications to keep volume consistent week to week.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and methodology

CareerPlug's report analyzes 2023 hiring data from 60,000+ small businesses and over 10 million applications to benchmark hiring metrics.

CareerPlug 2024 Recruiting Metrics Report

Improve your odds with tailored applications

ScoutApply helps you tailor resumes and cover letters faster so more of your applications reach the interview stage.