This isn't a joke; but if you're American or have a US green card, why not work here in the states? Isn't the US generally considered to be the best place to be a pilot? I'm asking honestly; I just don't know much about the overseas market.

Some pilots (I know a Navy guy) were hired there when times were tough here.

Once vested in seniority/longevity, there's a natural tendency to stay... especially since CX has an LAX base (last I heard anyway).

But yeah, I'm sure many or most US CX pilots have come home in last five years.

It ebbs and flows but there have been times over the last 20 odd years when being a pilot here in the US was not great. Right now, we’ve faired a lot better than the rest of the world and it’s better here than elsewhere. It’ll probably swing the other way at some point in the next 10-20.