I can show you guys hundreds of articles on this I've accumulated, but lets look at this from the World Aviation Training Conference & Tradeshow (WATS) a few days ago (some excerpts):

"the final session of the day looked at the issue of US regional airline pilot supply and demand, and was led by the Regional Airline Associations (RAA) Training Committee. According to Airlines for America, with some 27,000 pilots to retire between now and 2025, the community will need about 44,000 pilots. Complicating matters is pending congressional legislation for new hire F/Os, including 1,500 hours and an ATP. "

"Front and center was a pilot labor forecast research project by the University of North Dakota (UND). A mere 53% of instructors surveyed will choose the career full time, and 32 percent are re-thinking their plans due to the 1,500 hour rule. ExpressJet stated that the pilot shortage is already here - airline job fair attendance is down by 50%, their pool of applicants is nil, and only some 30% of applicants to the airline are actually qualified for a job offer.

Many of the airlines in attendance echoed the shortage theme. American Eagle had a pool of 500 applicants but today there are less than 100 in that pool. Few saw any relief in the immediate future, but all agreed that the industry needed to do a better job of marketing the career and to be Ambassadors of Aviation.

GoJet Airlines challenged delegates to consider going from the traditional Continuing Qualification (CQ) three day classroom and two days in the simulator, to just two in the simulator and incorporating on-line learning. These efficiencies were seen as helping to mitigate the personnel shortages. ExpressJet continued the theme with its discussion of AQP adoption and the lessons-learned. "

"The FAA opined that the new Flight Duty and Rest rule will increase safety but also increase demand for qualified flight crew members, which some see as further exacerbating the pilot shortage."

Extracting and Enhancing Human Performance | Halldale)

Call it what you want, but the regional airlines and the FAA are calling it a pilot shortage. Patience young grasshopper, your time is coming.