I believe it is indeed about numbers. As evidence I offer the closings of Catholic  schools  due, in great part, to fewer nuns/sisters, and the closing of parishes due to lack of priests.

Fewer professed personnel means fewer of everything ordination is supposed to make them uniquely qualified to do; sermons, doctrinal teachers, staff schools, lead parishes, administer sacraments, etc,  etc ...

And all of it tied to them working for less than lay workers --- the money "numbers".