Tennessee Employment & Job Training
Tennessee Employment & Job Training
This directory highlights workforce programs, American Job Centers, Goodwill career services, and reentry-focused nonprofits in Tennessee that are known to consider applicants with a criminal record or serve justice-involved job seekers. Policies still depend on the specific offense, time since conviction, and type of job — always read each posting carefully and follow your probation or parole conditions.
Memphis / West Tennessee
Counties: Shelby, Madison, Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, Haywood & surrounding areas
Regional workforce board operating American Job Centers with job search support, skills training, hiring events, and referrals for job seekers with barriers to employment.
Intensive personal and career development classes, reentry housing, and job placement support for people returning from incarceration or overcoming major barriers to work.
Faith-informed job readiness classes and on-site staffing for adults in Memphis neighborhoods, including resume help, interview practice, and transitional job placement.
National reentry organization providing paid transitional work crews, job-readiness training, and coaching for people coming home from incarceration.
Large distribution centers and logistics companies often recruit through staffing agencies for entry-level roles. Some accept certain records; policies vary by company and offense.
Some hotels, restaurants, and cleaning companies hire applicants with records for back-of-house or custodial roles. Front-of-house and cash-handling positions may have stricter screening.
Nashville / Middle Tennessee
Counties: Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Sumner, Wilson, Maury, Robertson & nearby
State-run career centers offering job search support, workshops, training referrals, and placement assistance across all 95 Tennessee counties, including Nashville.
Long-standing reentry nonprofit focused on people returning from incarceration, with intensive job-readiness classes, transitional work crews, staffing services, and wraparound support.
Free job-readiness classes, digital skills training, and career coaching for job seekers, including people with justice involvement or other barriers to employment.
State office focused on connecting justice-involved Tennesseans with workforce services, training, and local partners. Helpful starting point if you are unsure where to begin.
Several staffing firms place workers into warehouses, light industrial, and hospitality roles. Many will consider some records but may be limited by client requirements.
Smaller contractors sometimes hire justice-involved workers for entry-level labor, landscaping, and construction support roles, with training provided on the job.
Knoxville / East Tennessee
Counties: Knox, Anderson, Blount, Sevier, Jefferson & surrounding areas
Goodwill centers in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Morristown providing job readiness, supported employment, vocational evaluation, and placement services for people with barriers to work.
Workforce readiness and employment support program in Knoxville helping residents build skills, connect with employers, and address barriers to stable work.
Ask your officer or AJC staff for current contact info.
State career centers offering free job search assistance, online job matching, training options, and referrals. Many locations serve rural counties across East Tennessee.
Some plants and production facilities in East Tennessee consider applicants with certain records, often through staffing agencies or after a period of time offense-free.
The Smoky Mountains region has seasonal hiring for hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Some roles are open to people with records, while others have strict background checks.
Chattanooga / Southeast Tennessee
Counties: Hamilton, Bradley, Marion, Rhea, Meigs, Polk, Sequatchie & region
Regional career centers offering job search tools, training referrals, workshops, and employer connections for job seekers in the 10-county Southeast region.
Reentry employment program helping people returning from incarceration with job readiness, transitional work, and long-term placement support in the Chattanooga area.
Opportunity Centers providing free job search help, career coaching, training programs, and connections to employers for people with barriers to employment.
The Chattanooga region includes auto suppliers, distribution centers, and industrial employers. Some hire justice-involved workers, often through workforce or Goodwill referrals.
Tennessee Statewide & Online
Covers: All 95 counties, remote-friendly training, and statewide resources
Network of state-funded career centers providing job search assistance, online matching, training referrals, and workshops for residents of all 95 counties.
Goodwill locations across Tennessee plus online tools (My Career Advisor, GCFGlobal) offering free job-readiness courses, resume help, and digital skills training.
Self-paced non-credit certificate programs in IT, business, healthcare, legal studies and more. May be useful for building long-term credentials while on supervision, if allowed by your schedule.
Some national companies limit early background questions and advertise “fair-chance” hiring. Many still screen for certain offenses, especially in banking, security, or in-home services.
Important: A “✅ Second-chance focused” label means the program is known to work with justice-involved job seekers, not that they will hire every person with any record. Final decisions depend on your specific charges, time since offense, prior work history, and internal company policy.
Probation / parole restrictions: Always check your judgment and sentence, probation order, and any written conditions before accepting a job. Some people are restricted from certain industries (cash-handling, security, bars, childcare, entering private homes, etc.). When in doubt, ask your officer and follow their instructions.
Hands-off matching: OACRA does not place you into jobs or guarantee that any provider listed here will be approved by the court or your officer. Use this directory as a starting point, then confirm with your supervising authority.
Updates & corrections: To suggest a Tennessee employer or program, or to correct a listing, email contact@oacra.app with the provider name, website, city, and whether they actively hire second-chance applicants.
