9 Recession-Proof Careers & Why They Are Secure

Written by tatarjob and tatarayub Additional"In addition to police work and homeland security,
reporting by Neena Samuel and Kathryn M.government inspects and regulates many
Tyranskiindustries," says Shatkin. "Workers can sometimes
Despite the economic downturn, these careerscapitalize on their experience in an industry by
are still growing.moving into a regulatory job."
These industries project promise-and jobs-for theGovernment property inspectors - Median salary:
future, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics$48,400 Education: vocational training,
and the Occupational Information Networkassociate’s or bachelor’s
database.Immigration and customs inspectors - Median
1. Educationsalary: $59,930 Education: bachelor’s
Math and science teachers will be in demand asUrban and regional planners - Median salary:
the U.S. struggles to compete with other countries$57,970Education: master’s
in engineering, technology, and medicine. A growing6. Health Care
immigrant population means moreHealth care pops up at the top of just about
English-as-a-second-language classes will beevery list of hot careers. All of us are getting
needed.older and living longer, sometimes with chronic
Postsecondary teachers - Median salary: $56,120health conditions. What’s more, health
Education: bachelor’s degree and often ainsurance practices may undergo a radical revision
master’s or doctorateduring the Obama administration, which has
Teacher assistants - Median salary: $21,580announced plans to address three central issues:
Education: some post-secondary education orcoverage, cost, and quality of care. "Health care is
vocational traininga growing industry," says Bettina Seidman, "and
Educational, vocational, and school counselors -not just for health care professionals. There will
Median salary: $49,450 Education: secondaryalso be jobs for secretaries, accountants, and
education, associate’s, bachelor’s, oradministrators."
master’sRegistered nurses - Median salary:
2. Energy$60,010Education: associate’s or
Some of the jobs in this field are the result ofbachelor’s
projects started a year or more ago. But the realDental assistants - Median salary: $31,550Education:
boost will come from the new administration’ssecondary education, plus a few months to one
commitment to a more efficient national energyyear of on-the-job training
system. "Growth of energy consumption aroundMedical records and health information technicians
the world will keep this sector strong," says- Median salary: $29,290 Education: associate’s
Laurence Shatkin, coauthor of 150 Best7. International Business
Recession-Proof Jobs.Corporations, consulting firms, nonprofits, and
Power plant operators - Median salary: $56,640even governments are going after global markets.
Education: vocational training and several years ofPeople with international expertise,
on-the-job trainingforeign-language skills, or a willingness to move
Insulation workers - Median salary: $31,280abroad will be in demand. "The global economy is
Education: secondary education and vocationalonly going to grow," says John Challenger. "U.S.
traininginvolvement will expand, short and long term."
Electrical power-line installers and repairers -Interpreters and translators - Median salary:
Median salary: $52,570 Education: vocational$37,490 Education: bachelor’s
training and several years of on-the-job trainingInternational management analysts - Median salary:
3. Environment$71,150 Education: bachelor’s or master’s
Green is getting the green light in a nationwideMarket research analysts - Median salary: $60,300
push to make homes and office buildings moreEducation: bachelor’s or master’s
energy-efficient and to develop alternative energy8. Law Enforcment
sources (solar, wind, nuclear) as well as fuel cellInternational terrorism makes daily headlines, and
technology. "Anything involved with wind power,fear of financial insecurity is matched only by
either the design or related products, will be big,"concern for our physical safety. "Crime
says Laurence Stybel.doesn’t go down in a recession," says Shatkin.
Environmental scientists - Median salary: $58,380"It may even increase."
Education: master’sProbation officers - Median salary: $44,510
Environmental engineers - Median salary: $72,350Education: bachelor’s
Education: bachelor’sCourt reporters - Median salary: $45,330
Hydrologists - Median salary: $68,140 Education:Education: postsecondary vocational training
master’sParalegals - Median salary: $44,990Education:
4. Financial Servicesassociate’s degree in paralegal studies
Rising from the ashes of a very bad year,9. Technology
financial services have a bright future. CorporateNew uses of technology in services and products
America’s wretched excesses mean morelike electronic health records mean that this sector
government regulation. Workers who are retiringwill continue to be strong. "We have just begun to
will need advice on how to make their money last.use the Internet as an entertainment medium in
Small businesses may outsource accountingpublishing, music, and film," says Peter Weddle.
services. As we get to the middle of theComputer systems analysts - Median salary:
recession, there will be a wave of mergers and$73,090 Education: bachelor’s
acquisitions, Stybel predicts. "People withNetwork systems and data communications
experience in managing the process-corporateanalysts - Median salary: $64,600 Education:
attorneys, investment bankers, andbachelor’s
accountants-will be in demand."Computer, ATM, and office machine repairers -
Financial advisers - Median salary: $67,660Median salary: $37,100 Education: high school or
Education: bachelor’svocational training
Accountants and auditors - Median salary: $57,060And We’ll Always Be Looking For…
Education: bachelor’s"Think of basic human needs, the things we
Sales agents (securities and commodities) - Mediancan’t do without," says Shatkin. They provide
salary: $68,430Education: bachelor’swhat he calls "little islands" of employment in this
5. Governmenteconomy. For example, he says, we will always
More than half a million federal employees willneed sewage and water treatment. Challenger
retire by 2016, leaving open positions at agenciessays the food industry is a core area: "People
from the CIA to AmeriCorps to NASA. There willhave to eat, and the global population is increasing.
also be opportunities at the state and local levels.