Those hiring practices don't require anyone to be hired that isn't qualified. The question is are they "less qualified". I'm saying that Mr. CATIII doesn't have enough information to prove that anyone "less qualified" is being hired, nor does he actually know what makes a person "more qualified" at every particular airline. As long as you have the time and ratings, you're "qualified". What else a company looks for in its employees is entirely up to them. Otherwise why would anyone care if you had internal recs or volunteer hours?

And why are people having trouble hiring? Idk, maybe lack of new candidates due to high education costs, absurdly low starting pay and no clear path for progression..?