5 Recession Proof Careers for the Next Decade

In the current downsizing economy, the best return on investment for your career may be to focus on your current job by increasing your skills and credentials by earning a degree or by taking certificate courses online. At the same time, preparing for your next job or next career may yet be a wise move. In these uncertain times, pursuing your dream job may have to take the back seat to pursuing a career path that is more in demand.

While there are no guarantees any more when it comes to employment, there still are some sound hedged bets. If you are thinking about your next career move, or if you are forced due to downsizing to make some career decisions, you may want to consider throwing these professional fields on your short list:

 

1. Health Care:  The closest thing to a guarantee in any field may be the job of ‘personal and home care aide’. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is projecting 773,000 to be added by 2016, more than any other profession. In careeraddition, due to the aging population, there will continue to be growth in areas such as Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technician, Occupational Therapy Technician, Nursing, Physical Therapy Aide, Health Care Administration and Management, and many other health care professions.
2. Networking & System Administration:  The BLS predicts that this career path will have the highest growth rate (53%) of any major job by the year 2016. The median starting salary of $55K-$65K is a good reflection of the demand for the job.
3. Computer Software Engineers:  Demand for good computer engineering talent has not lacked over the last decade, and probably won’t over the next 10 either. The BLS predicts this field will add another 226,000 jobs by 2016.
4. Green Energy:  The next 10 years will produce a large number of jobs in all fields relating to green energy and the fight against global warming. The Obama administration plans to inject at least $150 billion into the field over the next  decade and predicts that this will create 5 million new jobs.  Mechanical engineering and electrical engineers will be amongs the 20 most recession-proof jobs, and much of this growth will be in the area of green engineering. More specifically,  there will be a great need for battery technicians, wind, solar, CO2 emissions technology, nanotechnology, materials sciences, natural gas exploration and infrastructure, and nuclear.
5. Sales Representatives/Account Support:  Jobfox.com lists sales representatives and account/customer support as the #1 and #2 most recession-proof careers because slow growth demands people that can get results and keep clients/customers happy.  Customer retention is much less costly than obtaining new customers in most cases.

Although we don't encourage you to abandon your life goals, focusing on a career that can result in almost certain present employment that allows you to build transferable skills can be the best solution for now and for your future.

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