Job hunting just doesn't make sense

We live in a world where evidence based science has improved our housing, transportation, communications, medical practices, etc.
However, looking for work has nothing with science or methodology. Although there are thousands of books and articles on the internet on the creation of the perfect resume, job search strategy, personal profile etc, they always reflect the trends of the times and are subjective pieces of advice.

The use of sites like Linked In does add a certain degree of standardization.  An prospective employee can be checked for references, work experience etc. There is no reason to assume that everybody will get on the social networking bandwagon. Who wants to spend time online more than they have to?

How true is it that the job seekers qualifications fail to meet the requirement of the market? Has there been any studies of what information educational institutions share with government and industry? Would a centralized database to match job seekers and employers be of any use? Would people be willing to give up some of their privacy to improve their chances of gaining employment?
What have journalists found when a name is changed from an African, Middle Eastern, South, or East Asian, to a "Western European" name?