As far as I can tell, a real shortage is basically impossible.
I come from a farming background. On the farm, when the work has to be done, it has to be done. The crop will wither away and be worthless if you spend any time waiting. That often means hiring people who are not skilled to get the job done.
On a grain farm, at least, good help are worth their weight in gold. I see some farms offering $50/hr. just to find talent. But in the absence of those good people, you still need someone to do the work. That often means settling on someone who is unskilled for, say, $10/hr. You just end up hoping the reduced pay will offset the additional costs of employing them.
The technology sector is different. The constraints on time are completely artificial. If a really good programmer isn't available today, the project can wait until he is available next month. Unlike other industries, here there is simply no reason to hire the less skilled programmer, even at a reduced salary.
