Lazy folks is not the only reason the listed positions are not being filled.
How many of those job openings are not really available. I’m not looking now, but when I was looking as well as listening to HR folks in the company I was in; many posted openings were not actively being filled and those that were many were on the slow path by HR to be filled.
Another reason posted above could be that folks do not want to mess with the covid regulations. A large portions of the opening around here are health care.
Many people have found other ways to earn a living. There has never been an easier time to be self employed. There are literally dozens of websites like Fiverr.com that make it very easy to freelance your work.
Why face vaccine mandates, mask wearing mandates, permanent understaffing workloads, etc. when you can work for yourself and set your own rules?
I hate to break it to the people riding high horses here. The people who had their careers and lives wrecked by our communist infested government are not dumb or lazy. Many of them have already found another way and those help wanted signs are going to be there for a long time to come.
So if you are one of those who say they won't hire someone who hasn't been working for the last year and a half you might want to rethink your position because you can't fill a job that nobody wants or NEEDS. Turn these people away and don't be surprised when the company you work for closes for good.