Just finished reading the book "A Lifetime in Long Haul" by a retired 747 Captain. Himself and his cadet colleagues of that era were required to do a couple of years of GA flying in the NT, Qld and PNG, before joining the airline as Second officers. Most of them seemed to value the experience
Would this be a solution? Maybe it's a lack of structured career path that dissuades good people from wanting to become pilots, and this could provide a source of well trained, motivated pilots for GA operators?