How common is it to be hired onto a service industry and/or part-time job but never be scheduled?

I know someone who says this has occurred around 10+ times in a row now over the past year. As a result, they have been chronically unemployed in a major metro area. Is this common now, or would you suspect something else at play? Complaints of the job market are always given, but typically that refers to not being interviewed/hired in the first place, not hired but then never reached out to. Their partner covers all their bills.