The fact is that EK needs a lot more pilots (and cabin crew, engineers and, if my recent attempts at renewing my medical are anything to go by, Doctors.) than it did 10 years ago.
A decade back if an airline went broke, which they did with monotonous regularity, EK could mop up 50 or 100 pilots and keep their recruitment going for several months. Now airlines aren't disappearing the way they used to and 50 pilots is a drop in the ocean compared to what EK needs to recruit. Even for those without a job Emirates is no longer a first choice employer.