10 Recession-Proof Jobs That Can Resist Recessions

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Penny Hoarder.

Amid the rising costs of almost everything, Americans have been worried about the economy heading into recession for years. And as layoffs begin to pile up amid a soft job market, fears of a recession could grow.

If you’re worried about stability in your job, you might consider switching to recession-proof jobs.

What Are Recession-Proof Jobs?

When a recession occurs, the labor market tends to contract. That means hiring parking and demolition. Recession-proof jobs are positions where you’re likely to see more job stability – even in the face of a contracting labor market.

Remember that “likely” is not a guarantee. It is possible to work in recession-proof jobs and industries and feel the negative effects of recession. There are just historically more stable ones than others.

Why It’s Important to Choose a Career in a Recession

Choosing a recession-proof job gives you more peace of mind than possible job security during times of economic uncertainty. If you are able to adapt your work to the current market conditions, there is a good chance that you will be able to earn a steady income.

As you consider transitioning to a career that can survive a recession, it can help to assess your transferable skills as you jump into an industry with more resilience.

While no field is completely immune to the effects of a recession, there are professions that fare better than others. If you’re looking to make a career pivot soon, here are recession-proof jobs to consider as you build a new skill set.

1. Health Professionals

People still have medical needs in low economies. At this moment, there are unique factors that strengthen the medical field as recession-proof, too.

The first is that even before the epidemic, there was a shortage of nurses. During the worst of the pandemic, many health care workers understandably burned out and left the field. That means the expected nursing shortage has worsened.

In addition, baby boomers are aging. This is a great generation. As they age, their health care needs increase, creating even greater demand in the field.

It’s not just nurses. Other medical occupations that are facing recession include positions such as physicians, radiologists and medical technicians. While some of these jobs require a long return to school, others can be achieved with an associate’s degree or certificate, which you can get at your local community college.

2. Teachers and Education Workers

While working in America’s K-12 education system may not be the highest paying field, it is one in high demand.

The salary may not make you rich, but education is one of the few fields in America that is still consistently united. That means teachers are more likely than most to receive a competitive health insurance plan, a pension and some level of job protection from the union.

There are asterisks that matter, though. Your job is more secure if you have been in the union for a while, as the time spent in the service is more important than the actual performance of the current job.

Your job is also more secure if you work in an economically profitable school district, which means they have a better ability to manage their full payment of property taxes. During the 2008 recession, we saw a decline in teaching jobs in districts that rely on state funding in addition to property taxes, as many states implemented austerity policies in response to contract markets.

That means if states cut their budgets again because of the recession, teachers in districts with low property values ​​are at greater risk – especially beginning teachers.

3. Public Security Personnel

Generally during a recession, we can say that government jobs are stable. This has not been the case with the Trump administration.

However, one area of ​​government services that may make it more vulnerable is the public security staff in local government. Think police, firefighters and EMTs. These are important positions that politicians are often unwilling to compromise – even if they oppose government spending.

4. Resource Workers

One sector that is always in demand – even during a recession – is skilled worker positions. Utility workers such as electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians will be needed even if the economy remains strong.

The good thing about these jobs is that you can pursue them without going to college or taking out student loans.

That doesn’t mean you can just walk in the door. You will need to receive professional training and complete an apprenticeship before you are eligible to be self-employed. While you may not have to invest a lot of money to pursue one of these careers, you will have to invest some time.

5. IT Support Specialists and Cybersecurity Specialists

In some sectors of the economy, you may feel like robots are coming for your job with the advent of AI. But someone needs to program and service all those robots. In the technology era, one field that is recession-proof is IT support and Internet security.

Now, during a recession, positions such as software engineer may initially be scarce. Growth is not usually a feature of recessionary economies, which means that initial financing may not be abundant. But a job in AI and data protection is likely to be more secure.

6. Freight Drivers and Transport Specialists

Back in 2008, retail workers in places like grocery stores would be on the list of recession-proof jobs because no matter how bad the economy gets, people have to eat something.

While some of these jobs may be resistant to the contracted labor market, the positions are not as plentiful as they were 17 years ago before the widespread adoption of self-assessment systems.

You can bet companies will need delivery drivers for all that food, though. Even if you don’t like to drive a little, more and more people are getting their food and other essentials delivered to their home, which is opening up more positions for delivery drivers. This could be for companies like Amazon, DoorDash and UberEats.

Behind all those deliveries are logistics professionals. In the past, America has historically been good at transportation – especially in the corporate sector. If there are product shortages, supply chain problems or other dramas in this space, the demand for these logistics managers could increase rather than decrease.

7. Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

If you think this one resonates with medical professionals, you’d be right. Although no one has a shiny ball, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are likely to have more job security in the recession for the same reasons that medical professionals are likely to remain in high demand for years to come.

8. Insurance Professionals

If you work in the right field, insurance can be a recession proof job. This is especially true if the insurance you are selling is legally mandated, such as auto insurance or certain types of business or professional insurance.

Some policy areas are less predictable. While some people may turn to products like life insurance or umbrella insurance to take the fear out of scary economic times, others may fail or cancel their plans as they make tough decisions and tighten their purse strings.

9. Funeral Service Professionals

The only two constants in life are death and taxes. And when someone passes away, families turn to funeral home owners to treat them well. This is true whether or not there is a recession going on. In addition, funerals are expensive, regardless of the economy.

Owning a funeral home is not the only way to gain stability in this industry. You can also pursue a career as an embalmer, working in a crematorium or as a cemetery caretaker.

10. Financial Advisors and Debt Advisors

As we saw during the 2008 recession, far from all financial activity is recession proof.

If the market goes haywire, you may be fine if you work with a large customer base with a high net worth. That’s because they need advice as they manage their investments and other assets in times of market uncertainty.

However, people are likely to participate in new investments during recessions, and financial professionals moving down the food chain should not rely on their jobs as recession proof.

Unhealthy clients are more likely to need to deal with financial services in a recession – not on the investment side. While they may not turn to a CFA for stock advice, they are more likely to need credit counselors and experts to guide them through the bankruptcy process.

How to Future-Proof Your Business Against Recessions

If you’ve been working in a white-collar, knowledge-based job your entire career, the name of the game in case another recession hits is “pivot.” For some, that may mean being humble, working in fields where you don’t need the college degree you depend on for most of your career.

For some people, finding a recession-proof job may mean going back to school, whether you’re pursuing an MD or entering a certificate program.

Finally, if you do not work in a sector that is not immune to recession, the key to future proofing your work may be flexibility. Keep your resume up to date and follow up on contact efforts when possible.

Building Stability with Recession-Proof Activities

Stability means preparation. If you’re feeling nervous about losing your job, make sure you familiarize yourself with programs like unemployment, COBRA and Medicaid now so the process doesn’t catch you out if the worst happens.

It’s also a good idea to start splitting your skill set and start over. Although career changes are not very exciting when brought about by external factors, they can be much easier if you have something going on before everything falls apart.