There was a shortage but it was only for very high time First Officers and Captains. The Middle East and Asia was poaching them for quite awhile with very lucr

There was a shortage but it was only for very high time First Officers and Captains. The Middle East and Asia was poaching them for quite awhile with very lucrative packages. The supply of low-time pilots is typically high, thus the need to slog it in the regionals for low pay while building time.