Secretary of Labor Announces Partnership to Connect Unemployed with Jobs

October 21, 2011 – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced a partnership that leverages the combined audience and expertise of officials from the U.S. Department of Labor, Facebook, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, DirectEmployers Association and the National Association of Colleges and Employers to provide employment resources to job seekers through the use of social networks. “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,” said Secretary Solis. “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.” As part of the announcement, Facebook officials debuted a “social jobs partnership” page that highlights available training programs, educational opportunities and job search resources, which can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/socialjobs. Additionally, the partner organizations will conduct in-depth survey research about how job seekers, college career centers and workforce recruiters are using the social Web effectively; explore how job postings can be shared on Facebook and through other social websites at no charge; and distribute educational materials to recruiters, government agencies and job seekers about the utility of the social Web.