Being a postal worker was a stressful job for Nashville resident Monique McClain. She says she left her career during the beginning months of the pandemic, then picked up new roles at a local hospital. But that was also nerve-racking.

McClain says that it didn’t sit right being exposed to COVID while others were starting to work from home.

“I was a bit jaded,” she said. “And that actually fueled me to say, ‘No, go home because you’re putting your health at risk.'”

She began putting her talents to use to make money, including selling clothes on Facebook. That extra income allowed her to pick up quirky part-time jobs that didn’t require contact with a lot of people.

“I don’t think that I’ll return to a traditional job in an office or a workplace, where I’m overseen by supervisors and managers,” she said. “I like the freedom that I have now.”

Today, McClain said she feels empowered to put herself first. She’s also been spending more time with family members. She’s one of many people who turned to gig work, remote jobs and side hustles during the pandemic and didn’t look back.

The push for higher wages

According to the most recent Vital Signs report from the local chamber of commerce, the region’s economy has just about returned to pre-COVID levels. But some Middle Tennessee industries are still struggling to find workers, even as the pandemic ramps down. They’re discovering that finding workers isn’t as easy as posting a sign in the window.

As a would-be-worker, McClain said the shortage could continue unless employers prioritize a healthy work-life balance and pay people what they’re worth.

“The living wage needs to be comparable to the type of work you want done,” she said. “And the quality of work you want done depends on what you pay.”

McClain said businesses should expect to get what they put out.

“Well, if you’re paying me $18 per hour, you should expect $18 per hour type of work,” she explained. “Any additional work requires additional funds.”

It’s not just wages

But low wages aren’t the only thing driving Nashville’s ongoing worker shortage. The city lacks accessible housing, childcare and transit services. There’s also the need for more job training programs.

Urban League of Middle Tennessee CEO Clifton Harris says Nashville already has a huge talent pool of skilled workers — especially when it comes to Black residents — but that they lack resumes and credentials to work at some companies.

“Ms. Jones is not calling Lee Plumbing and Heating to do her heating and air conditioning,” he said. “She’s working with Bae Bae and Pookie down the street that are hustling.”

Harris says employers, city officials and schools need to invest in getting people who are already skilled the formal certifications they need. It could help combat the current and projected shortage for IT, healthcare and business jobs.

Seeking formal training is the route that Nashville resident Jama Mohamed took. He used to set up audio and visual equipment. Last month, Mohamed completed a tech bootcamp to become a software developer. But making that happen wasn’t easy.

“I’m just glad that I was in a position to be able to make that pivot,” he said.

Mohamed said his school allowed him to defer his tuition when he started his training. But he still had to use his some of his savings to pay the initial deposit.

It was a risk since the program was like an unpaid full-time job. Last year’s child tax credit gave his family a bit of a lifeline to supplement his lost income. Without it, he said, finishing his job training wouldn’t have been possible.

“That barrier for entry is too high,” he said. “Being able to sustain yourself through a job training program while you’re not making money is difficult.”