During the recession of the early 1990's it was common to see 3000 hour flight instructors and that recession was much less harsh than the current economic downturn.

My theory is that a pilots overall career satisfaction is in direct correlation with how much dirt they had to eat on the way up the ladder. I had a belly full by the time I reached the regionals and was not to willing to eat any more.

It is entirely possible that it could be many years more before hiring opens up at the instructor level. By then competitive minimums at the regionals could be 5000 hours and previous jet time. I had the lowest time in my regional new hire class with 3800 hours by the time I got hired.

Skyhigh