DOL and Facebook -- A partnership job seekers are sure to "like"

According to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, there are approximately 3 million job openings in the U.S., and nearly 14 million unemployed people.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a partnership with Facebook to help those 14 million job seekers find employment. A new Facebook book, the Social Jobs Partnership, can help connect job seekers with companies that are hiring -- thanks to more than 3,000 one-stop career centers that are represented, as well as online tools such as the DOL's My Skills My future website (which highlights alternative careers for certain skill sets).

With social networks playing such a big role in the job market these days, a partnership like this holds real promise. (A Jobvite survey of 800 HR and recruitment professionals revealed that 64% of employers hired through social networks this year.) As of today, more than 14,800 people have "liked" the new Facebook page.

Secretary Solis shares:

"Linking American job seekers with the resources they need to get back to work is a top priority of the Obama administration and my department.  By leveraging the power of the social Web, this initiative will provide immediate, meaningful and ready-to-use information for job seekers and employers, and a modern platform to better connect them."

Beyond the Social Jobs Partnership page, the DOL also plans to expand the program to Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

DOL and Facebook -- A partnership job seekers are sure to "like"