[borplk]

constantly complaining about the job market being tough is a strategy for companies.

they could have a 1,000 perfect candidates lining out the door willing to work for peanuts.

At that point they would adjust their expectation from "peanut" to "half a peanut" and they would still moan about "skill shortage".

[mastef]

Similar to adding the words "bad economy" in discussions regarding performance evaluations and raises. Cop outs based on mostly arbitrary "market mechanics".