The net is being cast further out and the mesh has got alot smaller. Companies can't be as choosey as in the past and requirements are less specific as they don't want to rule out a candidate who is say 100hrs light in multi time but in all other respects highly suitable.
These days it's draw in as many applicants as possible and sort through to find the best. In the past it was set high and specific requirements to reduce the number of applicants, then sort out who you wanted from people who met or exceeded the wish list.
Times have changed, lost count of the number of PEL AIR job adverts I've seen this year. Ten years ago despite having ATPL 4000+hrs, multi, turbine time I got knocked back, not even an interview, because I wasn't already endorsed on a Metro !