Please don't make assumptions.

Whatever the current market conditions are is irrelevant. They were different 10 years ago, they'll be different in another 10 years.

I was responding to the parent's claim that social engineering around signing non-compete clauses is unethical.

I consider trying to pressure an employee to sign such a clause unethical.

Maybe you feel differently.

I am very familiar with the software development market wherein both of my job changes thus far have been multi-year searches. Please do not assume that because it is easy to walk out the door into another job in a select few markets an with a select few skill sets that it is this easy for everyone writing software for a living.

Yes, employers getting people to sign away everything they do after their employment is definitely a sign of them getting the shorter end of the stick...

Without a job, you don't eat. That alone is massive market power.