There are some people in Europe claiming that the "shortage" is starting to slow. There seems to be no shortage of FTOs cranking out integrated students for direct hire to the likes of BMI, British Airways, RyanAir, Thomas Cook, etc.
In fact, three of the aforementioned are dropping people from their hiring pool or pulling sponsorships from students enrolled in integrated programs, leaving them stranded with a considerable training note and willing to take any job they can find.
I've said over and over again that foreign pilots don't want to work here.....there is no way that they would "lower" themselves to enter the fray that is the US regional "1000 turbine PIC" game and would certainly go bankrupt repaying a considerable training note on the wages paid here.....even on a regional captain's pay.
I am, however, concerned that the trend may be starting to reverse. I still think that foreign pilots are a long way away from lusting after entering the US aviation workforce.
Anyway, I realize that I may have gotten off on a bit of a tangent, but my point was that signs are starting to appear that would indicate that the "worldwide pilot shortage" is soon to be over.....at least this time around.