It’s one factor, a significant factor.
I know of companies hiring new deckhands and putting them right to work onboard while their applications for an MMC languish at NMC for months…
Few companies think that they should tie up boats and turn away business just because NMC cannot do it’s job.
Some people today simply are not interested in a job, any job. The Covid handouts made that group much bigger than ever.
A lot of young people are only interested in clean jobs that don’t require any physical effort or hardships.
The baby boomers have mostly retired. The next generations are smaller.
But I agree with you. Boat owners are making a lot of money right now. Our wages do need to be higher and owners can afford it.