Sadly if we laid off all the S/Os we've hired over the past 5 years I'd say only about 10% would continue in aviation via Air Force/instructing/freight or something else GA. Most I've chatted with would go do a degree at Uni and be a doctor/accountant/lawyer etc. There really isn't any passion for this job, there's been no real sacrifice by any of them to get here apart from a couple of years in Adelaide. No need to work a couple of ****ty jobs to make ends meet and pay for your flying. No losing any mates from CFIT. Never a morning when you wake up and think "f*ck is it really worth it"
If Cathay changed tomorrow to a logistics company, sold all the aircraft and gave all of them desk jobs of some sort most would stay.
Not criticizing, but from those I fly with, that's the impression I get. Maybe that's just how things are and it's a good thing. Who knows.