Bridging the Gap: How Investing in Mobility Supports Tennessee’s Workforce
Tennessee is facing a pressing challenge: a chronic labor shortage that leaves thousands of jobs unfilled. Even if every unemployed person in the state found work today, 64,000 positions would remain vacant. Employers are calling for solutions, emphasizing the need for upskilling, training, and access to a reliable workforce.
A recent article on Axios.com titled Tennessee doesn’t have enough workers to fill all of its open jobs by Adam Tamburin highlights the state’s workforce woes and the critical need to bolster training and education programs. While upskilling, re-skilling, and training are essential tools, the Transit Alliance also knows that improving access to safer, more reliable public transit and other multimodal options is just as vital to creating a thriving workforce and economy.
Access to Training: Mobility as a Foundation for Upskilling
For many Tennesseans, the first hurdle in workforce development isn’t finding a program—it’s getting there.
Investing in transit systems ensures that individuals can reliably access technical schools, community colleges, and workforce development centers, regardless of their location. As stated in Tamburin’s article, about 61% of Tennessee business leaders reported a lack of appropriately trained workers, underscoring the need for solutions that empower more residents to participate in workforce development programs.
Public transit bridges this gap, particularly for residents in rural or underserved urban areas who often lack access to reliable transportation. Additionally, flexible and efficient transit systems enable workers to juggle education, childcare, and other responsibilities while pursuing career advancement.
Take local on-the-job-training programs, for instance. While in training, participants often receive transportation support, such as a bus pass or access to shuttle services, ensuring they can reliably attend every session. However, once they graduate and begin working, these supports often end. Without reliable mobility options, participants frequently struggle to get to work consistently. Many face disciplinary action, lose their jobs, or are forced to quit due to a lack of access. This vicious cycle highlights the urgent need for a long-term investment in public transit that extends beyond training programs and ensures continued success for workers and employers alike.
Expanding the Hiring Pool: Connecting Workers and Employers
Tennessee’s low workforce participation rate, 59.4% this fall, as noted in the Axios article, underscores the need to connect more people to employment opportunities. Reliable transportation helps employers expand their hiring pool by linking them with potential employees who may live farther from job centers or lack personal vehicles.
For sectors facing acute labor shortages, such as healthcare and childcare, robust transit ensures that workers arrive on time and consistently, addressing one of the critical barriers to maintaining a stable workforce.
Moreover, transit systems re-engage populations that have stepped away from the workforce, including early retirees or those unable to afford car ownership, creating opportunities for them to re-enter the labor market.
Consider the financial barrier of owning a vehicle. According to AARP, it costs around $12,000 annually to own and maintain a personal vehicle. For many, this steep cost acts as an upfront “tax” just to gain access to job opportunities. Frequently, individuals purchase older, inexpensive cars that come with reliability issues, preventing consistent commuting. Others struggle to fuel their vehicles regularly or live in one-car households, making workforce participation a challenge.
These variables create significant obstacles to maintaining steady employment. However, access to a robust, safe, and reliable transit system offset many of these barriers, providing individuals with the opportunity to commute affordably, dependably, and sustainably. In doing so, transit strengthens workforce participation and gives employers access to a larger, more reliable labor pool.
Attracting and Retaining Young Talent
As Tamburin’s article points out, labor shortages aren’t unique to Tennessee—they’re a national challenge. However, younger generations often prioritize areas with affordable and sustainable transit options, making investments in public mobility a strategic move for attracting and retaining this critical demographic.
Robust transit systems reduce costs and improve quality of life, aligning with the preferences of younger workers and supporting Tennessee’s long-term economic competitiveness. Additionally, Tennessee faces a demographic shift. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Tennessee State Data Center, through its Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research, projects that the state’s population over 65 will increase from 14% in 2022 to nearly 17% by 2050. This aging population highlights the urgency of attracting younger professionals to maintain a balanced workforce and ensure continued economic vitality.
Investing in amenities like strong public transit and walkable communities is crucial for Tennessee to remain a desirable location for young professionals and families. Interestingly, these same amenities appeal to retirees, as shown by AARP’s Livable Communities initiatives, which emphasize the importance of walkability and public transit in creating age-friendly communities.
Walkable and transit-oriented communities serve as dual-purpose investments. For younger generations, they provide affordability, convenience, and opportunities to reduce dependence on car ownership. Public transit in these areas connects residents to jobs, education, and social activities, helping to attract and retain talent while contributing to vibrant urban spaces.
For older populations, these same communities reduce the challenges of navigating car-dependent areas. Access to public transit, proximity to healthcare facilities, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods enable seniors to age in place more comfortably and safely. These communities promote intergenerational interaction and inclusivity, creating stronger social cohesion and enhancing the overall livability of Tennessee cities and towns.
By prioritizing transit and walkability, Tennessee invests not only in its workforce but also in the health, well-being, and sustainability of its residents, regardless of age.
A Call to Action
The Axios article makes it clear: Tennessee’s labor shortage requires innovative solutions. Beyond training and education, investments in public transit and thoughtful land use policies are essential to building a more connected, competitive Tennessee.
At the Transit Alliance, we believe these investments are critical to bridging the gap between workers and employers while protecting the state’s cherished green spaces and farmland. Supporting density along highly traveled corridors and reducing sprawl are key steps in this process.
Let’s work together to create a Tennessee where mobility empowers every resident and employer to thrive. Join the Transit Alliance in advocating for deeper transit investments and policies that promote sustainable growth. Visit Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee to learn more, register for an upcoming program, and learn more about how you can take action today.