The job market just got harder

Those few employers that are adding staff are sifting through more résumés than ever.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers on average, are evaluating 5.4 candidates for each of their openings. The calculation is based on April 2009 figures.

To show how quickly the picture has changed, consider that employers were seeing only 1.7 candidates per opening in December of 2007.

The April figure was a hefty jump from March, when employers were seeing 4.8 candidates per opening.