This is not accurate in the case of SWA. Earlier this year SWA had ~2,800 qualified applicants on file and historically they've had ~7,000 on file on any given day. Hence why they changed the 1,000 TPIC requirement to 1,000 TPIC preferred. We can assume those same ~2,800 applicants are most likely on file at the usually legacies and cargo carriers. Recently SWA has eliminated the type rating requirement and the 1,000 TPIC requirement. Those are 40+ year policies gone in the span of only a couple of years.

Make your own conclusion about whether or not to call this a Pilot shortage but the fact is hiring practices are changing. There are 15 more years of escalating nationwide retirements.