FAA keeps track of pilot starts and all other certs it delivers each year. I do not have time to dig it up but there is a link to a spreadsheet somewhere on their website with this info. I have learned not to trust media in most things aviation, they simply do not study it hard enough to be accurate and complete. I do think the number of starts and other certs is down the last couple of years either due to the economy, news about the quality of life at many airline jobs, or both.