It'd not be more than tip of iceberg, as the 1500hrs (no other R-ATP would cut it for non ERAU, non US exmil pilots) are guys who already have worked in GA in Australia (or NZ, Africa, Indonesia etc, forced to relocate for early jobs). If anything, it'd improve newbie job market, vertical movement across Pacific - the job market is much smaller and those who actually venture on E-3 path, would be drop in ocean on US job market.
Spot on.
This E-3 visa with regional opportunities might be my saviour. Holding FAA certs, been flying turboprop in South East Asia, can't go back to Aust because of the economy heading south. Being an ethnic Korean, it's gonna be either Korea or U.S. Bad T&C, never mind. Somebody giving me a chance with a regional CRJ job in U.S, I wouldn't think twice about it. It's the best place for flying.