This is a huge issue in Australia at the moment. The labour force pre-pandemic was expanding at ~29k/month, but since the border was shut it's growing at 8,500/month. Foreign stu A mate who manages a cafe was telling me he just can't get staff. They'll apply he'll set up a time to interview them and they just won't show up. There's no lack of customers, the economy is booming, but for a lot of locals working in hospitality is not where they want to be.

I still can't believe there was so little government support when they shut everything down. Over here any employee working for an employer that had, or believed it would have, a 30% revenue decline was eligible for $750/week to remain employed.