Study: 51% Of Hires Culled From Internet SourcesStudy: 51% Of Hires Culled From Internet Sources

Employers turn to the Internet as their major hiring source, beating out newspaper classifieds and other traditional sources, according to a study carried out for technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

The study found that 51 percent of new hires were developed from Internet sources. Of that 51 percent, the highest quality candidates apparently came from employers' own corporate web sites and from employee referrals.

Newspaper classified ads, traditionally a major source of employment hiring, were the source of just 5 percent of new hires, the study found.

One of the lead authors said the data provided "clear evidence that the Internet has transformed the way American employers attract and hire employees."

Furthermore, "responses indicated that employers anticipate directing a greater proportion of applicants through their own corporate web sites rather than any other online source in the year to come," wrote Rich Cober, Booz Allen Hamilton team lead on the research report in statement.

The study broke down Internet hiring practices as follows: corporate employment web sites accounted for 21 percent of new hires followed by general job boards with 15 percent, niche job boards with 6 percent, social network web sites with 5 percent, and commercial resume databases with 4 percent.

The study, which was released Thursday, was conducted by the DirectEmployers Association, a non-profit consortium of more than 200 U.S. employers.