No I wouldn't be surprised, because that's wrong. Staffing agencies are different from the kind of recruiters we're talking about here.

Staffing agency growth has mainly to do with employers skirting labor laws.

There are also a gazillion "talent acquisition" agencies that don't even have contracts with any employer. They just see ads and try to find their own candidates in the hopes of getting the fee. That's why so many companies say "no agencies please" on their websites.

All of the above accounts for most of the growth in this industry, NOT legit employers with legit jobs to fill. And there really aren't all that many "difficult" openings.