10 Recession-Proof Job Fields for All Skill Levels

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Though not completely recession-proof, the roles outlined here are usually more in demand across economic shifts. Read on to discover jobs that tend to be more suitable during economic upturns and downturns.

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Economic uncertainty can threaten any job, but some industries weather these storms better, seeing fewer layoffs and workforce reductions during downturns. These include the medical, legal, and essential services industries, such as supermarkets.

If you're looking for greater stability in your career, consider industries and professions that tend to remain in demand across economic conditions. Read on to discover jobs that tend to be more stable during economic upturns and downturns.

What is a recession-proof job? 

A recession-proof job refers to employment that remains stable or even grows during economic downturns. While no job is completely safe from economic conditions, these jobs tend to be in demand regardless of the broader economic situation.

Some fields offer security, including healthcare, public safety, education, and certain legal roles. These professions maintain consistent demand for their services even during challenging times.

10 recession-proof fields

Even when the economy is downturned, certain industries will typically need workers, including the following.  

1. Healthcare

Medical professionals tend to be essential. Within healthcare, roles exist for every education and experience level. Some common job titles in the medical field include:

  • Certified nursing assistant

  • Registered nurse

  • Healthcare administrator

  • Medical technologist

  • Laboratory technician

2. Public safety

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

  • Police Officer

  • Firefighter

  • Emergency medical technician

  • Prison officer

  • Security guard

  • Occupational health and safety specialist

3. Education

Students continue learning through economic shifts, requiring teachers and school administrators to keep things running smoothly. This includes nursery through primary and secondary schools. 

Teachers learn skills like teaching methodologies, curriculum development, learning theory, classroom management, and educational assessment during their education. Whether you work for a public or private institution, you may experience greater job security than in other professions as a teacher.

4. Law

While not all legal jobs are recession-proof, certain fields can hold steady through downturns, including criminal defence, bankruptcy, and healthcare law. You don’t necessarily have to attend university to benefit from the security of a legal job. Roles in the legal industry that tend to be in demand include: 

  • Paralegal

  • Legal assistant

  • Legal secretary

  • Clerk of court

  • Court reporter

  • Stenographer 

  • eDiscovery specialist

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 adviser

  • Tax accountant

  • Bookkeeper

  • Loan officer

  • Financial analyst

6. Mental health

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

  • Drug addiction counsellor

  • Caseworker

  • Social worker

  • Therapist

  • School counsellor

  • Clinical psychologist

7. Utilities

Utility workers are typically in demand because people depend on infrastructure—lights, water, internet—to live. Education, training, and salary differ from job to job, but you could consider some of the following options:

  • Power plant or substation engineer

  • Power plant operator

  • Safety engineer

  • Gas or pipeline operator 

  • Utilities manager

  • Water engineer

  • Electricity distribution worker

8. Trade

A tradesperson is someone who specialises in a certain trade. They usually acquire job skills through apprenticeships, technical schools, or on-the-job experience. Some examples of trade workers include:

  • Carpenter

  • Plumber

  • Mechanic

  • Locksmith

  • Electrician

  • Pipe fitter

  • Dental hygienist

  • Radiographer  

9. Supermarkets

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

  • Shop assistant

  • Shelf filler

  • Retail manager

  • Personal shopper

10. Rideshare and delivery

Whether 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

Recession-proof job skills

Beyond certain fields, you may discover 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.

Next steps

Certain fields consistently prove reliable during periods of economic turbulence. Consider the question: ‘What will people always require?’ Typically, the answer encompasses essential domains such as food, trade services, utilities, healthcare, and law. 

Are you 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, earning more credentials for your CV. 

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