Shortage exists only among certain 'airlines' and for experienced crew... I applied to a feeder-line last week by e-mail...got a response within an hour or so asking for me to contact them by phone... before doing so i looked at their FAQs and calculated the max poss salary (900 hrs) that could be earned and quickly dumped the idea of applying... I know of a lady working for a large law company in NY whos primary resposibility is monitoring use of the copy machine and who makes almost twice the sum.
I think I'll wait for her to leave (she's pregnant) and apply for the job.