USA were training 7'000 to 11'000 pilot a year.
so you tell me, it droped to 500 pilot?
... probably 500 is an exaggeration but the numbers have drop down a lot ... it's worthy to invest money in a job that isn't paying you back as much as you've invested and 99% of the time you have to be in places far away from your worm home bed ...
... instead it is easier stay home punching numbers on keyboard and getting almost an airline captain salary than start a pilot career which continue to be one of the most dangerous job with lots of variable during your entire life as a pilot ...
... the tendency from the passed 10 years was pretty discouraging ... you could have easily found a younger pilot willing to do your job cheaper, faster and better (P2F ruin the entire market) ... now let see if a second economic recession will stop this dangerous trend!