10 Recession-Proof Job Fields for All Skill Levels

Although there's no guarantee that any job is safe during periods of economic uncertainty, you can expect some industries to be less susceptible to conditions like layoffs and reductions in force during periods of economic uncertainty. These include the medical industry, the legal industry, and essential services, like grocery stores.

If you're looking for greater stability in your career, considering industries and professions that tend to remain in demand across economic conditions can be a good idea. Explore jobs that tend to be more stable during economic upturns and downturns.

What are recession-proof jobs? 

Certain jobs offer strong security, even during challenging times. The term recession-proof can be misleading because it’s hard to predict what could happen in the future. However, when people colloquially talk about "recession-proof jobs," they mean jobs that tend to be in demand, regardless of the economy’s status. Depending on what causes economic uncertainty, some jobs can be in even higher demand during tough times. 

What industries do well in a recession? 10 recession-proof fields

Even when the economy takes a downturn, certain industries will typically need workers, including:  

1. Health care

Medical professionals tend to be essential, and within health care, you can find a job with just about every education and experience level. Some common job titles in the medical field include:

• Patient care technician

• Certified nursing assistant

• Registered nurse

• Health care administrator

• Medical technologist

• Laboratory technician

Read more: 10 Popular Medical Majors for a Career in Health Care

2. Public safety

Those who work to ensure the safety of the general public tend to be in high demand despite what happens to the economy. Some common public safety jobs include:

• Law enforcement officer

• Firefighter

• Emergency medical technician

• Correctional officer

• Security guard

• Occupational health and safety specialist

3. Education

Students continue learning through economic shifts, and they require teachers and school administrators to keep things running smoothly. This includes K-12 education and higher education as well.

During the course of their education, teachers learn skills like teaching methodologies, curriculum development, learning theory, classroom management, and educational assessment. Whether they work for a public or private institution, teachers may experience greater job security than in other professions.

Learn more: 8 Teacher Interview Questions to Help You Prepare

4. Law

While not all legal jobs are recession-proof, a few fields that tend to hold steady through downturns, include criminal defense, bankruptcy, and health care law. You don’t necessarily have to attend law school to benefit from the security of a legal job. Roles in the legal industry that tend to always be in demand might include: 

• Paralegal

• Legal assistant

• Legal secretary

• Court clerk

• Court reporter

• Electronic discovery specialist

What defines recession-proof businesses?

Businesses might be considered “recession-proof” if they can continue earning a profit even while the economy is struggling. Sometimes, companies can do this because they are in an industry or offer a product or service that people still need even when they don’t have much extra money. Another way to create a recession-proof business is to increase your flexibility so that when your market conditions change, you can easily adapt and position yourself where customers need you, whether that’s adapting your service offerings or adjusting your overhead costs to lower prices. 

For example, an auto repair shop might be considered a recession-proof business because vehicles always need maintenance. When people are on a budget, they may choose to repair their existing vehicle instead of purchasing a new one.

5. Finance

Finances and taxes are a necessary part of life, so people in these professions usually have plenty of job security. A few roles you might look for include:

• Financial controller

• Financial advisor

• Tax accountant

• Bookkeeper

• Loan officer

• Financial analyst

6. Mental health

Mental health professionals are often needed most during cycles of economic uncertainty. Jobs within this field may vary according to scope and responsibility and include:

• Substance abuse counselor

• Caseworker

• Social worker

• Therapist

• School counselor

• Clinical psychologist

7. Utilities

Utility workers are typically in demand because people depend on infrastructure—lights, water, internet—to live their lives. Education, training, and salary differ from job to job but some options include:

• Power plant or substation engineer

• Power plant manager

• Safety engineer

• Gas or pipeline controller

• Utilities manager

• Wastewater engineer

• Power lineman

8. Trade

A trade worker is someone who specializes in a certain trade. They usually acquire job skills through an apprenticeship, technical school, or on-the-job experience. Some examples of trade workers include:

• Carpenter

• Plumber

• Mechanic

• Locksmith

• Electrician

• Pipefitter

• Dental hygienist

• Radiation therapist

9. Grocery stores

People may cut their spending during a recession, and that often means eating out less and cooking at home more. Enter the grocery store. When people need food, essential services like grocery stores can help. Job titles you might find include:

• Clerk

• Stocker

• Manager

• Personal shopper

10. Rideshare and delivery

Whether you're expecting an important piece of mail or your latest e-commerce order, you depend on delivery drivers for all kinds of things. That's why this job will continue to be in demand. Some specific roles include:

• Rideshare driver

• Food delivery driver

• Package delivery driver

• Courier

Read more: 15 Side Jobs to Make Extra Money

Recession-proof job skills

Beyond certain fields, you may find that certain skills remain in demand through economic changes. These tend to be marketable, transferable skills that you can use no matter what job you're working in:

• Adaptability

• Creativity

• Ability to multitask

• Critical thinking

• Leadership

• Collaboration

• Communication

• Time management

• Attention to detail

A recession can also be a useful time to reassess your skill set and work on developing high-income skills in in-demand areas or strengthening valuable technical and workplace skills. You can continue building your skill set by completing a professional certificate, working on an independent project to gain useful experience, or enrolling in a class.

Explore careers in recession-proof businesses on Coursera 

Starting a career in an industry with a more regular and less volatile demand is one way to avoid uncertainty in a recession. Looking to pivot to an in-demand career? Earn a Professional Certificate in data analytics, IT support, project management, UX design, cybersecurity, sales development, or bookkeeping from industry leaders like Google, Meta, Intuit, and IBM. Learn at your own pace from anywhere with an internet connection, and earn a credential for your resume.

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