Times are currently very good. Relatively.
There has never been a recruitment shortage and never will. But there are a lot of airlines recruiting right now. If we're honest, recruitment is as good as it has been for many years. The T&Cs are not good, but give it ten years and they'll be seen as amazing.
The old guard have gone. Virgin has an uncertain future and too much of a history of large scale redundancies to be taken serious anymore. Monarch's enviable old T&Cs have been decimated. Thomas Cook want to get rid of their UK airline. Even at BA there are rumours of FOs on shorthaul regretting the move, allegedly.
Look to the new kings; easy are recruiting and are now arguably either the no2 or depending on your age and attitude about flying heavy metal, the no1 employer of choice. Ryanair have allegedly improved T&Cs, for new joiners at least. Look back to 2015 in 2025 and you'll think about the halcyon days.