# Recession/depression proof jobs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246 "2009-01-27T17:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/21 "2009-01-27T21:53:26Z")
The way things appear to be headed, I’d say that the Marauding Raider industry in on its way up. I recommend investing in motorcycles, crossbows, spiked shoulder pads, and mohawk grease. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/22 "2009-01-28T03:12:37Z")
One of my friends owns a computer company which mostly maintains business systems. He says it’s become like a utility. People have to keep the computers running. No loss in business so far. I’ve heard that accountants and bookkeepers are always in demand. Also I’d imagine anything in medicine. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/23 "2009-01-28T03:17:38Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > …background in electronics engineering and instrumentation, specializing in industrial automation… All my acquaintances in automation have been doing quite well, maybe you should stay in the field, maybe relocate. I don’t know anyone working for a car manufacturer or anything, different story there. ---
**Author:** ![groo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@groo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/24 "2009-01-28T03:30:23Z")
Looking towards the future, there are a lot of baby boomers that are about to start needing things that old people need, and their numbers will mean a boom in related industries. Regarding law and medicine, lawyers work with very unhappy people and criminals. Doctors and nurses work with sick people all day long. Every day. Forever and ever. Think about it if you’re leaning towards those fields; it could be a perfect fit, and those issues are things that filter out your competition. Or they could be things that will make your life dreary. One industry that occasionally seems to move opposite the market is the defense industry. Not the no-bid contracts for mercenaries transporting pallets of cash to corrupt puppet governments; more like R&D or maintenance & upgrade contracts on avionics systems, as well as associated IT & administrative jobs. Picking a name totally at random, Raytheon is hiring right now, and the “EE,” “instrumentation” and “industrial automation” phrases in your resume would likely register as good things. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/25 "2009-01-28T03:38:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > My wife just spent the weekend in Princeton NJ with my ex-cousin, who said that she feels reasonably secure in her job: she’s a public high school English teacher in an upper-middle-class area. Maybe not the greatest pay in the world, but tons of job security. I’d say this, but our district is laying off teachers right and left these days. You have to have a ton of seniority and the right credentials to be bullet-proof. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/26 "2009-01-28T04:56:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’d say this, but our district is laying off teachers right and left these days. You have to have a ton of seniority and the right credentials to be bullet-proof. I have this fear often. Since I am a music teacher I know I am likely the first to get axed. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/27 "2009-01-28T12:58:22Z")
Bar owner. When times are good, people drink. When times are bad, people drink. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/28 "2009-01-28T13:26:54Z")
- Silvio, what two businesses have traditionally been recession-proof since time immemorial ? - Certain aspects of show business… and our thing. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/29 "2009-01-28T13:47:10Z")
Civil service/Federal Government Accountancy Pharmaceuticals ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/30 "2009-01-28T13:48:33Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > This is true, both of my brothers in the service always start off every phone call with “Hey, so are you guys doing alright?” because they’re slightly mystified by the economy as of late, since the business of killing things and blowing shit up is currently enjoying a major resurgence. This being the Straightdope I figure I would inject some reality. Although you are more likely to be busier now in the military there have not be any increases in personnel. So no resurgence, at least as far as the job market. The number of personnel is set by Congress. It can not be increased without authorization. In 1993 there were around 1.7 million active duty military in the US. Now there are around 1.4 million. That is due to the post Cold War draw down. There have been proposals to increase the number by a bit but nothing yet and not to the old level either. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/31 "2009-01-29T04:49:45Z")
The population is aging at a rate that currently seems to support a Walgreens every half mile (only a mild exageration in Albuquerque). Any field focused on meeting the needs of the elderly will do well in the coming decades. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/32 "2009-01-29T05:07:12Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Any field focused on meeting the needs of the elderly will do well in the coming decades. Seriously. This is the way to go. My sweetheart has recently been talking about opening a seniors home, back in the town where she’s from; there’s one there now, but, from all accounts, is in very poor condition, and isn’t being properly run. It would be a major up-front investment in time, capital, and energy, but as long as it’s done right, it’s a sure thing. Add to that the pride and satisfaction that comes from genuinely helping people who need it so much, and ask for so little… S^G ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/33 "2009-01-29T05:17:23Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > The population is aging at a rate that currently seems to support a Walgreens every half mile (only a mild exageration in Albuquerque). Any field focused on meeting the needs of the elderly will do well in the coming decades. I’ve worked at Wallyworld for about 18 years now. (It just turned out that way, it was never my intention.) Right now, I’m feeling VERY happy to have a pretty secure job. It doesn’t pay incredibly well, but it pays and so far _fingers crossed_ no layoffs. In fact we’re hiring hard and heavy at the store level. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/34 "2009-01-29T05:27:08Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > This being the Straightdope I figure I would inject some reality. Although you are more likely to be busier now in the military there have not be any increases in personnel. So no resurgence, at least as far as the job market. The number of personnel is set by Congress. It can not be increased without authorization. In 1993 there were around 1.7 million active duty military in the US. Now there are around 1.4 million. That is due to the post Cold War draw down. There have been proposals to increase the number by a bit but nothing yet and not to the old level either. The high turnover practically guarantees a job. The money is top notch, the pension after only 20 years’ work is the equivalent of several millions in independent savings with health insurance for self & spouse for life, and branches like the Coast Guard can mean you don’t even have to fight in any wars, but people quit when the reality of being deployed away from everyone they know 1/3 - 1/2 the time hits. there’s no such thing as a free lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/35 "2009-01-29T10:32:31Z")
> [@dre2xl](#): > > The high turnover practically guarantees a job. The money is top notch, the pension after only 20 years’ work is the equivalent of several millions in independent savings with health insurance for self & spouse for life, and branches like the Coast Guard can mean you don’t even have to fight in any wars, but people quit when the reality of being deployed away from everyone they know 1/3 - 1/2 the time hits. there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Agreed that it is a recession proof job. That has always been the case. There is no resurgence as was stated before. If you are a well qualified candidate recruiters will fall over themselves to get you in. Talk to any recruiter. At anytime most of those that walk through the door are not qualified to go in. If you have a high test score, clean health and a clean background then they’ll love you. There is always a number of people getting out because it is not for them. But retention rates are pretty high. Granted they have been offering large retention bonuses. However it remains that the military is smaller than it was 10 years ago. It is not growing. That is what I was refering to in my previous post. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/36 "2009-01-29T11:06:17Z")
I work for a power company. We’re pretty recession resistant since everyone needs power. You could always try to work in a power plant. I work in the helpdesk, so I’m not much help otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/37 "2009-01-29T11:50:25Z")
My job is pretty recession-proof - teaching a compulsory subject in a stereotypically tough inner city school. There are legal limits to how big the classes can be, so the number of teachers can’t be cut down that much. Not all teaching jobs are recession-proof, of course, but I’d say this one is. Otherwise, yup, healthcare for the elderly - but that’s not always well paid. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246/38 "2009-01-29T12:05:19Z")
In general terms, not necessarily to do with this recession/depression but in REALLY general terms, **everybody** needs to eat…and the most basic foodstuff in the western world is bread. Become a baker, dude. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recession-depression-proof-jobs/483246.md?page=1)