The people saying there is a shortage of workers aren’t using the dictionary definitions.
There is a shortage of people willing to accept their terms. There isn’t a shortage of people who want to work.
There is a shortage of people willing to accept their terms. There isn’t a shortage of people who want to work.
Would you also agree that there's no housing shortage in the US, only a shortage of houses available at locations and prices that people are willing to accept?
Either way your comparison is moot, as houses are not people, and as such cannot be treated badly and so decide it doesn't want to be bought/sold.
This is where there's disagreement. Is it people fed up with poor working conditions, life circumstances that prevent employment, or purposeful unwillingness to work?
I believe the first 2 categories are significant and worth fixing to identify if/how many fall into the 3rd category. Not many do in a well functioning society, IMO.