There is no shortage of pilots so to speak.
There will be many individuals good and suitable enough to join the cadet programme but it does take time for them to be productive for the airline.
There are also many pilots out there who would not hesitate to take up a position with Cathay, especially those coming from turboprops, military or those with jet hours but working for really much more undesirable employers.
However, there is a shortage of well qualified and highly proficient pilots with above average capabilities and skills. CX probably can’t attract these guys as much as they could in the past for reasons we can all agree.
This might lower the experience levels in CX but this doesn’t necessarily mean it is unsafe.
There is no shortage of pilots, just a shortage of highly experienced and proficient ones.
When to know there is a shortage? When $ goes up. Just as we have seen in specifically in the US.As of now, again, no shortage in Asia or HK.