I first heard that there was going to be a massive pilot shortage back in 1988!!! Yes, you read it correctly.... 23 years ago! I was 15 years old and just starting to make general enquiries with various flying schools. They all said with this huge hiring boom that was on the way, anyone with a blue license would be able to walk into a flying job of their choice.
Now there has been some sporadic periods of hiring since then_1989, 1997, 2000, 2005 but nowhere close to what was implied back in 1988. I have been working since 1994 but many others I know have not. The only assumption I can draw from this is that if this mythical pilot shortage has not materialized in 23 years.......then it is exactly that...a myth that is never going to happen.