Would it be fair to dig deep on this one?
Could this be an ugly result that we are seeing, stemming from an unattractive profession reputation? Talented, aspiring youngsters being turned away by reputation and recommendation of parents to pursue safer avenues with much better returns. -> causing significantly poorer selection pools.
There are other jobs with high education costs, no guarantees, long hours and low pay to start, but few of them have such demanding standards whether it's physical/medical, psychological or even from a risk/responsibility point of view. In my opinion.
I've met, perhaps too many pilots in flight training who's philosophy of pursuing the career is that of another trucker/lorry driver. Flight schools need to make money as well. There is a known dynamic of international students in Canada, who's parents encouraged them to pursue just that- a good paying "truck-driver-like" job.
... you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.. true?