415,000 Open Jobs and a Retirement Wave — AI Audio Screening to the Rescue

U.S. manufacturing is facing a crisis that job fairs can't fix. 415,000 positions sit open right now. A quarter of the workforce is heading toward retirement by 2030. And 245,000 workers quit in a single month. The math doesn't work — until you change how screening works. In this episode, we look at why traditional phone screens are crushing manufacturing recruiters, how AI audio screening is letting plants process hundreds of candidates simultaneously without adding headcount, and why OVI's audio-chat approach — no video, no cameras, just structured conversation — might be exactly what the skilled trades hiring gap needs. Pricing starts at $99/month, putting this within reach for mid-market manufacturers. And compliance is built in from the ground up — audio-only means no facial analysis, no biometrics, and a clear path through AEDT regulations.