Is there a shortage or not? Case load sizes

I keep hearing mixed messages about here being an SP shortage, and then others who are having a hard time looking for a job. The case load amount is supposed to be 1 to 500, but I keep seeing SPs talk about having over 1,000 on their case loads. Why is that? If there really is a need and there is a shortage, why do so many SPs have a hard time landing a job?