There is no such thing as a labor shortage there is only a wage shortage.
I think a lot of people changed fields. Who wants to work at a restaurant or any other “non-essential” job? Some just haven’t bothered going back to work for the same reason. They may have worked the same job for years and suddenly the government shuts the business down and it never opens again. Imagine having started washing dishes and working your way up to manager or head chef and then poof. Sorry about your luck.