“There are a lot of guys at EK (Canadians, Australians, South Africans and Kiwis among others) who haven't got a lot of choice right now, but they will have one day”
I assume you mean that when the aforesaid pilots have acquired command time, they will migrate to greener pastures. Perhaps, but looking at the present state of aviation, skibeagle, I don’t foresee an exodus of any kind either in the near future, or the nebulous ‘one day’ to come, especially so for the nationalities you mention above.
If you have not been hired by your own national carrier at an early age, then you are necessarily forced into the overseas contract market for the rest of your working life. A harsh reality check, the over-riding desire to fly involves many sacrifices.
It is, unfortunately, very much an employer’s market, and will remain so for some time to come.