Re: NPC's stuck in professions
If your sims can't help the NPCs because they haven't built the needed workstation but they are at the level for the workstation, then there isn't much you can do except keep helping the NPCs you can until you get enough resources to build. If you sims can't help the NPCs because they're not at a level that they can even build the workstation needed, then that needs to be reported to support.
Go to this link to get to the support form. http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-FreePlay/INFORMATION-The-Sims-FreePlay-Support/td-p/1877383