Many companies have been advertising more jobs but have been slow to fill them.

NPR: US Jobless Claims Fall To 5-Year Low Of 324K

Critics say this leads to spending on prestige projects popular with politicians, like the towers, which were slow to fill up, and Putrajaya, Malaysia's flashy new capital.

ECONOMIST: Corporate governance at Petronas

But Jones was too slow to fill his defensive channel after a line-out and Phil Godman raced through the gap to let Ben Cairns finish under the posts, Paterson converting.

BBC: Ospreys 30-32 Edinburgh

Businesses have been slow to fill vacancies.

NPR: US Employers Post More Jobs, Cut Fewer Workers

On the plus side, the services can accept reservations at any time, track their customers' behavior to provide personalized services such as identifying regular customers and their preferences for seating, and use direct-marketing techniques to drive business on slow nights, fill cancellations or offer premium seating.

CNN: Online restaurant reservations really do work

The daily deals can also be used by businesses to unload extra inventory or fill seats during slow periods during a certain time of day or week.

FORBES: Daily Deals Growing Up With First Conference

Was it a slow day and they needed to fill a hole?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Even in slow periods, your average coffee-stained corporate headhunter is scrambling to fill 20 positions at a time.

WSJ: Did You Get My Resume?