SR yes, he does use American terminology. Airlines in Europe do not 'furlough' pilots - they sack them!
There are several operators in Europe (including UK) that have gone bust or seriously contracted in the last year. Many pilots have thus been forced back into the market. Some of them, for a variety of circumstantial reasons, may struggle to get further employment. It is not at all unusual to come across experienced pilots who are unemployed - ask the BALPA Employment Service. The market is better (in UK, but not necessarily elsewhere) than it has been for several years, but this is a notoriously insecure profession.
Scroggs