Recruitment spending in the U.S. rose 6 percent to about $124 billion in 2011 compared with 2010, with more of that spending focused on professional networks, social media and CRM technology at the expense of job boards and agencies, according to new research from consulting firm Bersin & Associates.

“We estimate that U.S. companies are spending an average of $3,500 for every new hire brought into the organization – about three times the amount spent on training per employee,” says CEO and President Josh Bersin. “This large expense is primarily going to agencies and job boards today, but companies increasingly are turning to professional and social networks for their recruiting needs. Our research shows that talent markets are out of balance: even with the high unemployment rates in the U.S., companies must invest heavily in recruiting to find the ‘right candidate,’ leading to a greater-than-ever focus on social networks as a major new tool.”

The study finds that 10 percent of open positions are filled using professional networking sites. This percentage is expected to rise rapidly as recruiters and job seekers become more adept at using these sites, Bersin says.