A Real Pilot Shortage?
 

Most Oil Company, and other, contracts pay the Operator for the projected number of pilots needed for each operation. Not the actual pilots on site.
Perhaps the Operators don't want to pay extra salaries and they claim a shortage of experienced pilots.
This would raise profits, I expect. Not the Operators fault, of course.
This also includes Engineers/Mechanics.
Thirty years ago, when new to the civilian industry, a Chief Pilot told me me " Of course the major companies mess with their pilots. They quit and each company in the Gulf gets experienced pilots for beginning wages."
Have things really changed?
Comments welcome.
SirVivr