Though not completely recession-proof, these jobs tend to be in demand across economic shifts. Explore recession-proof jobs in industries like health care, public safety, law, and more.
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.
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.
Even when the economy takes a downturn, certain industries will typically need workers, including:
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:
Read more: 10 Popular Medical Majors for a Career in Health Care
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Advance your career in health care management. Develop business skills and understand the American health care system to improve cost and quality.
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Innovation, Insurance, Risk Management, Operations Management, Business Psychology, Leadership and Management, General Accounting, Business Analysis, Problem Solving, Accounting, Research and Design, People Analysis, Decision Making, Strategy and Operations, Leadership Development, Strategy, Finance, Health Economics
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
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EMT Medical and Trauma Emergency Care. Gain the skills needed to provide first responder emergency medical care
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Trauma, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medicine, Leadership and Management, Communication, EMT, Decontamination, Dentures, Toe, Foams, listening, emergency, ingestion, infant
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
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This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to operate a family day care center, and it covers topics including the fundamentals of early childhood ...
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Working With Children, Classroom Management, Policy Development, Parent Communication, Childhood Education and Development, Child Development, Diversity Awareness, Curriculum Development, Data Collection, Special Education, Behavior Management, Teaching, Cultural Diversity
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:
Legal assistant
Legal secretary
Court clerk
Court reporter
Electronic discovery specialist
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This course will give you a glimpse into six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil ...
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Civil Law, Court Systems, Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Lawsuits, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Case Law, Governance, Personal Injury Law, Civil Procedures, Legal Proceedings, Legal Pleadings, Commercial Laws, Plaintiff, Legal Research
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.
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:
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Launch your career in bookkeeping. Gain the professional skills you need to succeed in the bookkeeping field. No degree or prior experience required.
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Bookkeeping, Data Analysis, Accounting Concepts and Measurement, Bank Reconciliations, Double-Entry Bookkeeping System, Business Analysis, General Accounting, Accounting, Finance, Accounts Payable and Payroll, Long-Term Liabilities and Note Payable, Accounting for Liabilities and Equity, Owner’s Equity and Owner’s Draw, Financial reports analysis, Bank Reconciliation, financial statement analysis, Cash Flow, Accounting Cycle, Creating Financial Statements, Basis Of Accounting, accounting software, Inventory costing methods, PP&E Accounting, Asset Accounting, Accounts receivable and cash receipts, Depreciation
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
School counselor
Clinical psychologist
Average time: 1 month(s)
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Skills you'll build:
Psychology, Motivation, goal setting, History, behavior
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
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We explore “10 things” that range from the menu of materials available to engineers in their profession to the many mechanical and electrical properties of ...
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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
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Dentistry 101 is an introduction to the exciting and diverse field of dentistry through the lens of its many practitioners. If you’re interested in ...
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Primary Care, Dentistry, Surgery, Oral and Dental Care, Health Care, Emerging Technologies, Oral Health, Dental Procedures, Public Health
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
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There are a growing number of exciting, well-paying jobs in today’s tech industry that do not require a traditional college degree, an one of the hottest ...
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Service Level Agreement, Help Desk Support, Issue Tracking, Technical Support, Technical Communication, Patience, Time Management, Rapport Building, Problem Solving, Empathy, Communication, Customer Service, Customer Support, Desktop Support, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
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
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
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.
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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