I think type approval is not the main issue.
Type experience is. Training someone up to approval standard could take up to a year,
but even then their experience level will be low.
When you consider the costs involved in training engineers, it's no wonder companies are paying more to retain them.
A friend of mine with LWTR no type experience has had B737 200,300,400,500,700
airframe and engine courses, boroscope, ground run and 700 avionics courses in less than two years with more to come. You can't fault the operator commitment, but I'm sure they would have preferred someone "off the shelf".