Choosing a Major – Five Recession-Proof Career Options

While the buzz is on about green energy and information technology, these five career staples continue to stand the test of time.

If the current economic downturn has taught us anything, it is that not all career paths are created equal. Male’s are getting hit hardest, primarily due to their employment in the business and manufacturing areas, while women, more often employed in critical service sector jobs, are doing much better holding onto their jobs.

That said, the poor job market is exceedingly stressful for all workers. Even those who are fortunate enough to have a job may still be looking over their shoulder as their company downsizes to ensure profitability. And of course, if you are one of those who received a pink slip, you know all too well that stress it is having on you and your family.

Most of us want to believe that college will be the solution, that earning a degree will ensure a long, healthy career. But that is simply not the case. The fact is that a college education in and of itself does not make you immune when economic times are as tough as they are at this juncture.

Choosing a High-Security Major/Career Path

However, if you want to reduce the overall stress, there is clear indication as to the best career opportunities. A number of professionals have released books and published studies on recession-proof career options.

Below are five of the very best options. Because some only demand a two-year degree, current freshman and sophomores might want to consider working in one of these options as a minor ensuring they have a great career back up if the tough job market continues.

Nursing

Careers in health care generally resides somewhere on every list, often at the very top. Americans are getting older and living longer – therefore the need for trained caregivers continues to increase with each passing day.

One of the top options on the list is nursing (R.N. training). Far too many individuals tend to dismiss nursing from their consideration despite three factors that should prevent you from doing so.

First and foremost, current data indicates a quarter of a million new job openings will be available each and every year for the foreseeable future. Second, the median salary for registered nurses now tops $60,000 a year though earnings depend on where you work and your credentials. And third, as the sophistication of care grows, the menial nature of nursing has diminished greatly.

Perhaps the most important element is that workers can get started in the profession with just an associate’s degree, though to earn the highest salaries one will need to earn their bachelor’s degree and appropriate certifications. But at the same time, many health locations offer courses and training on site, with some even helping with the cost of courses.

Other Health Care Options

It goes without saying that there will also be ongoing openings for doctors, physician’s assistants, and physical and occupational therapists. Such positions demand extensive schooling (often five years or more) and an ability to handle extremely difficult coursework. If you can handle such demands, you will find head hunters searching you out.

But as health care demands grow, the profession offers a number of job options for secretaries and medical records and health information technicians as well. Here again, employment may be obtained with just an associate’s degree yet median salaries now top $29,000 a year.

Yet another option to consider is dental assistant/hygienist. With median salaries topping $30,000 and the need again only for minimal schooling, such options deserve careful consideration.

Secondary Education

Another definite consideration is the teaching profession, particularly teaching at the secondary level in the fields of math and science. While schools have not been immune to the economy, teachers of math and science remain in extremely high demand.

In addition, another high-demand teaching option involves languages. The ever-growing immigrant population in the United States has placed a premium on English-as-a-second-language teachers. At the same time, schools often face great difficulty finding teachers certified to teach a foreign language at the high school level.

Lastly, demand remains high for counselors. The break up of the family has created a need for social workers while vocational and guidance positions continue to be a critical staple for helping high school students move on to the next stage of their lives.

And a one stop-gap option for graduates is to consider a position as a teacher assistant. Though pay is not the best and your qualifications may exceed those needed, such careers generally offer above average benefits (healthcare, sick and vacation time) and a schedule that can be very conducive to a new family.

Early Childhood Education

In contrast to the secondary level, teacher openings at the elementary school level are tough to come by. Though many teachers retire each year, it is not uncommon for even small school districts to have 40-50 teacher applicants for every opening.

But an area of significant growth is the pre-school/child care arena. Whereas once upon a time parents were content to see their children placed in simple day care facilities, today’s more sophisticated workers know full well the importance of the early years in the overall educational process.

Therefore, it is now common for these facilities to hire credentialed workers who have training in early childhood care and educational techniques. Because these positions tend to pay a bit less than an elementary school teaching position, competition among those who have gained credentials is not as keen.

Law Enforcement

While most of our public attention is focused on terrorism, there remains the task of ensuring security in our neighborhoods, towns and states. And not only does crime generally not go down in a recession, it often times increases.

Certainly, there will always be a need for competent police officers and administrators within local departments and state offices. And while law enforcement is generally equated with people having to place themselves in harms way, there are a number of other important options that are less risky.

Probation officers, the individuals that oversee paroles, remain in high demand. A bachelor’s degree is required but employment carries with it a median salary of nearly $45,000 a year.

Two other options in high demand are court reporters and paralegals. In the case of reporters, only post-secondary vocational training is required and yet annual median salaries top those of probation officers. Meanwhile, paralegals need only an associate’s degree to get started and they too post a median salary of roughly $45,000 a year.

Money Isn’t Everything

When it comes to a career option, job security is now trumping pay for many people. But even before the recession, job satisfaction surveys indicated that only half of all employees were satisfied with their current employment.

In one such survey taken before the recession was underway (http://jobs.lovetoknow.com/Job_Satisfaction_Research), 55 percent of employees earning $50,000 or more reported being satisfied with their jobs but only 14 percent claimed they were very satisfied.

Meanwhile, for those employees earning $15,000 or less, 45 percent report being satisfied but an even higher percentage, 17 percent said they were very satisfied.

Clearly time off with family and job security remain key components of job satisfaction for the average worker. Given that scenario, current and soon-to-be college students would do well to think about these five work staples as they select their choice of school and major.

 

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