Seeing fewer critical roles filled externally

Has anyone else noticed that certain key positions, especially those in specialized scientific or technical areas, aren't being backfilled as quickly, or at all? We've had a couple of high-performers leave critical teams over the past few months, and the roles just seem to be... gone. Or maybe they're being distributed among the remaining team members, which is obviously not sustainable. It's not just entry-level stuff either. These are roles that require specific expertise and experience. Makes you wonder if there's an internal directive to avoid external hiring for certain functions, perhaps to manage headcount or costs indirectly. Curious to hear if others are seeing a similar pattern.