Top 10 Recessionproof Jobs

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I was a school social worker from 1973 through 2003 in the same public school system. Recessions came and went, but not my job. Why? The Public School System is a major societal human services delivery organization. Once in a school district, stay in it until your retirement with full pension and benefits. Put up with the personalities, egomania, political intrigue, institutional stress, etc. Keep focused on your life and career survival plan. Let others seek advancement up the ladder of distress; don't get sucked into thinking about moving up unless you want to die prematurely of cancer (stress depletes your immune system, damages quality of cellular life, etc), heart attack, stroke, etc. The lower the grade level, the greater the likelihood of career fulfillment and contentment with life. This is for teachers, social workers, learning consultants, guidance counselors, school nurses. Administrators are left to their own self-made fate. Money is not the reason we commit our lives to the profession of education. We are responsible for educating a child's brain to perform cognitive and perceptual functions which results in a child's ability to think abstractly and critically and to feel and cope with one's emotional and social development. If you are not in a collective bargaining State, then make it happen through State legislation. Become involved in your local educational association to gain and protect your rights to professional standards by which you deserve to be treated by your administration and the community, represented by the local board of education. The board of education is the last pure democratic institution in our American society, i.e. election by direct vote. It belongs to the public through voting rights, not appointment by the mayor which is antithetical to the principles of a participatory democracy.
About the writer: He holds a master's degrees in social work and general psychology. He is a licensed clinical social worker, a board-certified diplomate in clinical social work and has a private practice as a consultant to school districts needing social assessments and as a certified supervisor of licensed social workers preparing for licensure as clinical social workers. LCSW's are 50% of all mental healthcare providers (psychotherapists).

Harry F. Kuhn III, MA, MSW, LCSW, BCD, PA of NJ 6:23PM May 26, 2009

There have been times in the last 30 years where a RN may have had to look for a job instead of being courted for many. They are the exception that proves. The rule however. As my grandmother told me in 1979, "There will always be sick people..."
Particularly for RNs with a bachelor's degree or graduate degree, or with specialty training or experience, the demand never dries up. The shortage of RNs is projected to grow to 500,000 by 2025 and the demand for RNs is expected to grow 2-3% per year (Buerhaus, et al., 2008).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other ambulatory care settings added 27,000 new jobs in February 2009, a month when 681,000 jobs were eliminated nationwide. RNs, as the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, nurses are likely be recruited fill a large portion of these new positions (AACN, n.d.)
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Fact Sheet (n.d.). http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm
Buerhaus, P., et al., The Future of the Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications (2008). http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763756840/

Satisfied RN of 27 years. of CA 9:28PM May 03, 2009

How is teaching both overrated and recession proof? Sounds awful to have to sacrifice your career choice for a nice stable job that will simply avoid a recession. Great you get to keep your overrated and honestly the most stressful job imaginable (the sex and language used by student's today is UNBELIEVABLE. And if you don't now, like I didn't before I began teaching this year, kids grab each other's genitals regularly, kinda like a handshake. Teaching is not recession proof if you can't stand to keep your job at least until the recession is over. No job security anymore, in any industry, anyway.

Johnathan Wadsworth of SC 4:12PM May 03, 2009

I agree with "This is a crock" my husband also had a B.A. degree in Computer Science and over 20 years experience. No jobs in the I/T industry.

WOLFERT of WI 2:17PM April 27, 2009

I have an associates degree in computer networking and gave up looking for a job.

pete jorgenson of MI 4:12PM April 25, 2009

WHAT PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS ARE STATE AND FEDERAL WORKERS?

RICHARD BONNET of NJ 3:10PM April 07, 2009

agreed

gina of IL 8:16PM March 25, 2009

This is really boring.

Dick of IL 7:17PM March 25, 2009

I am a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and luckily still have a job as of this printing, and expect to still have a job in the future. CLS's are still in demand even in these tough times. My husband who is a member of California Assoc of Toxicologists recently sat next to a PhD Toxicologist from Kaiser Permanente and asked her what is her biggest problem at Kaiser Regional in Berkeley. She said that finding qualified CLS's was their biggest problem. CLS's are listed in the "hard to fill" category and often companies offer bonuses to new recruits. It is a demanding and stressful job but one that is interesting and gives me alot of job satisfaction. I feel like I am really helping people, that I am an integral part of a team of health professionals. I can work anywhere in the state where they have hospitals and could support a family if I had to on my own. It pays almost as well as nursing, and we don't have to deal with patients on a first hand basis. It requires a BS in a related science; chem, microbiology, clinical lab science, etc, and a one year internship in an accredited CLS program, or equivalent experience (military or hospital lab) There is a national exam too. I recommend this career choice to anyone. We have a diverse crew that I work with, men and women of all nationalities, ages and religions - a great group of people.
Also my husband says his business is booming - Forensic Toxicology - people drink while driving/do drugs/get stupid no matter what the economy. So there is another job in demand. By the way it doesn't require that much math - so dont be afraid of it for that reason. Once you get through the math and chemistry at university you dont use it that much in the Lab - that is what machines are for. I recommend however to take a Statistics course when it is an option...always useful.
Good Luck in your career choices - but keep Clinical Lab Technology in mind!!

K. Smith of CA 10:09PM March 10, 2009

Is going for higher studies like Masters in USA will end up in no job? In such case higher studies is very futile for people.I have done my MS in IIS from Pittsburgh. Inspite of being a topper right from my school days I end up with no right job for my career.

abc of VA 2:32PM March 10, 2009