There is no pilot shortage
There is no pilot shortage, just a pilot pay shortage. I could easily make three times as much going overseas to fly. If they up the pay guys would come back.
Most of the guys I flew with in the past are sitting at home. They are not going to get off their butts to commute to work to make $18,040 a year.
What is "absurd" is the pay they expect pilots to work for!