I think it's mostly because the statistics don't tell the story. I've been on the hiring side for 3 companies. We'd take the first non-idiotic person who applies.
If you're the kind of person to be a friend, you'd likely be hired. If you're the kind of stranger looking for a job, you'd be unlikely to be hired. If you're the kind of person to hang out on HN or some Facebook/Slack meme groups, we couldn't afford your salary.
Out of that, it would be roughly 90% of applicants who don't qualify, 5% who we can't afford, and somewhere in between which we just settle for. Many new graduates can't do FizzBuzz, many people who apply for a senior position can't reverse a linked list.
If you're the kind of person to be a friend, you'd likely be hired. If you're the kind of stranger looking for a job, you'd be unlikely to be hired. If you're the kind of person to hang out on HN or some Facebook/Slack meme groups, we couldn't afford your salary.
Out of that, it would be roughly 90% of applicants who don't qualify, 5% who we can't afford, and somewhere in between which we just settle for. Many new graduates can't do FizzBuzz, many people who apply for a senior position can't reverse a linked list.