Definition
Time-to-hire measures the time between the moment the candidate you eventually hire enters the process (application, or first contact if sourced) and their acceptance of the offer. It answers a precise question: once the right person is identified, how long does it take to close?
Formula
Time-to-hire = offer acceptance date - date the candidate entered the process.
Illustrative example: a candidate applies on May 10, interviews on May 24, again on June 6, receives the offer on June 9 and accepts on June 12. Time-to-hire is 33 days, including 13 days of waiting between the two interviews: that is where to act.
Key takeaway
Measure time spent in each status of the recruitment funnel, not just the total. In Ontario, since January 1, 2026, employers with 25 or more employees must tell each applicant interviewed for a public posting, within 45 days of their last interview, whether a hiring decision has been made. A slow process does not remove that obligation.