U.S. companies' primary source for hiring employees is the internet, producing 51 percent of all hires, according to a Booz Allen Hamilton study conducted for the DirectEmployers Association, reports BtoB Online. In 2005, corporate websites accounted for the largest share of hires (21 percent), followed by general job boards (15 percent), niche job boards (6 percent), social networking sites (5 percent) and commercial resume databases (4 percent), according to the study.

Some 74 percent of U.S. companies expect to increase their spending on corporate employment website in 2006; 68 percent will increase spending on employee referrals; and 60 percent will boost spending on social networking technology.

General job boards account for the highest recruitment-spending category for corporations, taking up 27 percent of the recruiting advertising budget - despite generating only 15 percent of new hires.