Hiring Costs $5,475 Per Person — AI Is Changing the Math

SHRM's 2025 data puts the average U.S. cost-per-hire at $5,475 — and executive hires hit $35,879. But those numbers are starting to shift. Independent research shows AI-native hiring platforms cut cost-per-hire by 33% on average, with some North American companies hitting 40% reductions. The math isn't complicated once you see what's actually driving those costs. In this episode, we break down the real anatomy of cost-per-hire — recruiter time, agency fees, job board costs — and look at what happens when you replace the most expensive steps with AI that costs a fraction of the current price. We dig into OVI's credit model, where a 5-minute AI audio chat costs about $2.50 versus $50–$300 for a recruiter phone screen, and what that means for HR teams under serious budget pressure. If you're still relying on agencies at 18–25% of salary, or watching your team burn 20 hours per hire, this episode is worth your time. The alternative exists — and it's already being used by nearly half of companies hiring today.