This year’s Benchmark Report includes one of the most meaningful additions in a decade: candidate disposition data. For TA leaders used to optimizing around cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-application (CPA), and apply rate, this down‑funnel visibility is a game‑changer.
Here’s what disposition data is, why it matters, and how it reshapes the way you evaluate your recruitment investments.
What disposition data measures
Disposition data tracks how candidates progress through standardized hiring stages:
It transforms data into a consistent, comparable view of funnel health. For the first time, employers can benchmark not just who applies, but who moves forward.
Why this matters for your hiring strategy
Top‑of‑funnel metrics are helpful, but they can’t tell you whether candidates were qualified.
A channel with a “high” CPA may perform better if its candidates sail through screening and interviews. A “cheap” source may become expensive once recruiter time, interview bandwidth, and decision cycles are considered.
Disposition data gives you what other metrics can’t: true cost efficiency.
The data highlights how specialized roles drive higher screening costs
Science and engineering, healthcare, tech, and finance all show the highest median cost‑per‑screen. These roles demand specific qualifications or credentials, and
