Isn't that the definition of shortage? When we say there is a shortage of X, it means that there is X, but not enough of it to keep the prices at an affordable level, so the prices have risen and some people who need X, want X, and/or previously could afford X no longer can. This is true as long as there is a shortage, not an absolute lack of something.

I mean, famines happened because sometimes there would be a shortage of food, perhaps due to drought, or a sudden increase in population not matched by an increase in food production. Prices would go through the roof. Rich people could afford the new prices and persevered. Poor people died of hunger. But if the poor mustered enough gold, they could go buy food like rich people did.

So my question is, do you consider famines shortages? If not, what even is a shortage? In yes, how is labour shortage any different, except in scale?