I think something people don't take into account is that most of the jobs weren't (and still aren't) filled in with randoms off the street. They're filled becau

I think something people don't take into account is that most of the jobs weren't (and still aren't) filled in with randoms off the street. They're filled because you know someone who recommends you into the position. The late 90s were full of "I've used a computer so I'm a tech" type people you're talking about--they got their jobs because they had a buddy who got a job, and it was easy to get your friends placed in the next desk. But you generally knew who you partied with at work and who actually got stuff done, and those people were not the ones who got recommended into a job when times were tight. The jobs were still there to some extent, but proven people were pulled into them before they even hit a recruiter.