Dive Brief:

• Facebook launched a job search feature Wednesday, according to a Facebook blog. Facebook has been testing the feature since November.

• The new feature is designed to make it easier for companies to post jobs and for applicants to apply for jobs directly from Facebook.

• According to ADP data cited by Facebook, approximately 40% of US small businesses have difficulty filling positions, while over one billion people visit Facebook Pages every month. 

Dive Insight:

Is this the tech talent gap solution? No, but it is another tool in the belt for an industry facing a few hiring challenges. When old guard companies shift business models, new jobs are created and often other employees are let go. Facebook wants to tap into that market in tech and other industries.

LinkedIn is more widely regarded as a site for professionals and job seekers, but Facebook has many more users, so the new feature could potentially give LinkedIn a run for its money.

Microsoft and LinkedIn, meanwhile, are looking to make the most of their merger and add new features and integration to help job seekers. In December, the two companies said they have been working on a plan that will combine LinkedIn identity in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite, and enable members drafting résumés in Word to update profiles and apply for jobs on LinkedIn.