One thing for sure in the US airline industry - If you don't like what you see, wait a little while and it'll change. I don't expect Delta to hire for a while, and UAL is still licking it's wounds from the US Air debacle. US Air is short of pilots, but is in very tenuous financial condition. The US economy is in a slump with no clear light at the end of the tunnel.
One thing for sure, there's no shortage of qualified pilots for major airlines - only some of the regionals are lowering standards.