Metro Social Services (MSS) has launched a pilot program aimed at tackling unemployment and underemployment in Nashville. The new initiative, MSS Workforce Readiness, is designed to provide job readiness and placement services for residents in need of support securing stable employment.
Executive Director Renée Pratt has assembled a specialized team with more than a decade of combined experience in workforce development. This dedicated unit will focus on the unique employment needs of MSS clients, offering a more hands-on and tailored approach than previous referral-based efforts.
“In the past, case managers referred clients to hiring companies in the community,” Pratt explained. “This program is different. It provides wraparound support from start to finish—building resumes, crafting elevator pitches, practicing interviews, offering guidance on professional appearance, securing job placements, and following up to support long-term success.”
Pratt emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “We’re seeing an increase in clients who need help with rent and food—needs that often stem from unemployment or underemployment,” she said. “Without income, families struggle to meet basic necessities. This new approach is about more than jobs. It’s about improving quality of life across Nashville.”
According to MSS’s Community Needs Evaluation, over 200,000 workers in Davidson County earn less than a living wage. Coupled with ongoing unemployment, this presents a critical service gap that the Workforce Readiness program aims to bridge.
“We’ve been developing this program for months to meet clients exactly where they are—whether they’ve never written a résumé or just need help polishing one,” said Brandy Dix, employment specialist and co-coordinator of the program. “We’re a one-stop shop for employment support and will walk with clients every step of the way.”
By the numbers:
• 32% of MSS clients were unemployed between Jan. 1 and June 11, 2025 (MSS client intake data)
• 2.8% — Davidson County’s overall unemployment rate as of March 2025 (Tenn. Department of Labor & Workforce Development)
Note: MSS client data reflects individuals seeking assistance, a population with higher economic vulnerability.
• One in four Nashville adults has debt in collections (CNE)
• Over 50% of renter households spend more than 30% of income on rent (CNE)
• Nearly one in five children in Nashville does not have enough to eat (CNE)
For more information about MSS Workforce Readiness, visit <www.nashville.gov/departments/social-services> or contact the Metro Social Services office.
