Alongside the myth of unemployment we have another myth constantly perpetuated by the state and the union leaders that of labour shortages.
labour shortages existed during the post-war boom of capitalism when millions were required to rebuild bombed out Britain and impose a social democratic welfare state so as to avoid a Russian style revolution.
Over the last few years bought over by the relentless propaganda of the market and the net boom which ended all business cycles once and for all a new myth started to be creted that of non-existing labour shortages.
Teachers, doctors, firemen, nurses etc could not now be found to work in the public sector. The attacks that the public sector has undergone in the 1990's are so severe that many people have made a 'voluntary' exit if they could, or they have been made redundant if they reach a certain age (salary costs too high). Organisations working closely with New Labour councils have deregulated many functions of the state to private contractors who then employ new people on new contracts without pension or employment rights. Many are forced on the dole or part time employment.
British nurses for instance prefer to work in Saudi Arabi when qualified than Britain.
Labour shortages could exist if there was zero unemployment. But as unemployment is around 5-7 million it is a myth used by the state to justify the sub-contracting and deregulating of all government services.