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Online resources top resource for job search, smartphone role increasing, PEW research finds

November 23, 2015

The Internet is an essential employment resource for many of today’s job seekers, according to a new survey released by Pew Research Center. The survey found more than one-third of Americans, 34%, looked for a new job in the last two years, and 79% of these job seekers utilized online resources in their most recent search for employment. Only 32% cited employment agencies as their most-used resource.

Participants were queried on the resource they used most in their most recent search for a job. Results include:

  • Online resources and information: 79%
  • Connections with close friends or family: 66%
  • Professional or work connections: 63%
  • Acquaintances or friends-of-friends: 55%
  • Employment agencies (government or private): 32%
  • Ads in print publications: 32%
  • Job fairs, conferences and other events: 28%

The research also found 28% of Americans, including 53% of 18- to 29-year-olds, have used a smartphoneas part of a job search, and half of these “smartphone job seekers” have used their smartphone to fill out a job application.

  • 94% of smartphone job seekers (representing 26% of all American adults) have used their smartphone to browse or research job listings.
  • 87% (representing 24% of all adults) have called a potential employer on the phone using their smartphone.
  • 74% (representing 20% of all adults) have used their smartphone to email someone about a job they were applying for.
  • 50% of smartphone job seekers (representing 14% of all adults) have used their smartphone to fill out an online job application.
  • 23% (representing 6% of all adults) have used their smartphone to create a resume or cover letter.

The survey included 2,001 Americans who use social media and was conducted from June 10 to July 12, 2015.