NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Wednesday, Metro's Strategic Planning & Research team released the annual Community Needs Evaluation report. Here's a peek at what's inside.

The report included several findings, but the Strategic Planning & Research team highlighted a few, including:

• 71% of the 70,000 food service jobs in Davidson County pay less than $40,000 per year
• Almost 1 in 5 Nashville children do not have enough food to eat
• Highest income inequality on record in 2022-2023
• Workers with sustained low wages are 38% more likely to die over the course of 12 years

“The economic suffering experienced by some of our seniors, disabled, and families was already acute, but we are now witnessing a rapidly deepening impact. In fact, our client demographic is changing as we are seeing more middle and upper-middle class residents coming to us for help,” executive director of Metro Social Services, Renée Pratt, said. “Thankfully, our department closely monitors these trends and develops data and trauma-informed solutions to respond to the evolving needs of our community.”

Additionally, the report found that of the 25 occupations with the most workers in the Nashville region, 20 pay a median wage less than a living wage in Davidson County. The report described a living wage as the minimum earnings necessary to meet basic needs while also maintaining financial self-sufficiency.

The report added that consistent low-wage work affects health outcomes for Nashvillians, with 16.2% of workers earning between $25,000 and $50,000 lacking health insurance. Health outcomes weren't the only cost to workers highlighted in the report — the team found that unstable, irregular and unpredictable work to "make ends meet" also negatively affected workers.

At a release event and panel discussion about the report, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said the report provides insights so that city leaders can adjust the support they provide to Nashvillians.

"Understanding these needs helps us improve our response. It's a big reason that I've been attending this event — in person — for more than a decade," O'Connell said. "The things that we know are in this evaluation help us keep getting better, but like so much of our work, responding on the topic of wages will require a network of partners larger than Metro."

Metro Social Services' Food Pop Up, welfare calls to area seniors, assistance with curbside trash enrollment, a workforce development program and the emergency medical document bag were all cited as programs developed in response to needs reports.

“Know that the future holds much hope and opportunity, as we are actively addressing these needs. I am most thankful to Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Metro Council, other elected officials and community partners who are equally committed to this work," Pratt added. "They have proven to be a great ally in the “heart” work needed to support and protect the citizens of Nashville."

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/high-cost-low-wages-report-highlights/