It's endemic in recruiting - the times get tough and far too many TPRs simply try and make more calls to the same types of clients they service when times are booming. Their faces become more downtrodden as the calls result in less and less business. Corp recruiters entrench while hiring managers become more committed to finding the exact match to a position they find difficulty in specifying. Corp recruiters roll their eyes.

How about being more flexible? Folks who have been laid off are looking at careers that are recession proof. There will always be a need for welders...