# What job categories are the most nearly recession-proof? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991 "2012-07-31T21:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/21 "2012-08-01T04:46:59Z")
Computer\* training. I get a lot of business from people who’ve been laid off, OR are just worried about it. They figure, hey, here’s my chance to get some new skills. The catch is, you have to make sure you’re teaching them the specific skills they need to get a new job, and do it well (otherwise, they could spend three years learning obscure intricacies of Photoshop, and not be employable). \*specifically Mac OS/Photoshop/Illustrator/Web Design ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/22 "2012-08-01T05:03:34Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Bankruptcy lawyer? Not really, at least in my area. I spoke with a chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee earlier this week. He says filings are down about 20% in the last couple of years. They changed the law several years ago, making the process a lot more complicated, so lawyers charge more, and filing fees have increased. It costs about $1700 to file a chapter 7 now including attorney fees and court costs, when it was running about $750 before the law changed. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/23 "2012-08-01T05:04:04Z")
My daughter the bartender disagrees on job security. She’s currently working 2 jobs, one at a high-end fine dining establishment and one at a neighborhood sports bar. When times are tough business at both places drops off. Except for the very rich, people just don’t go out as much, and when they do they don’t spend as much, and they also tend to tip less, which is a big part of the income for servers and bartenders. Sure, there are some who are laid off and drown their sorrows, but they have less to spend. You miss the “stop off after work for a few beers” crowd if they aren’t working. ---
**Author:** ![raskolnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@raskolnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raskolnik)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/24 "2012-08-01T05:21:10Z")
-people can drink more and not drink at bars. People save money drinking at home. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/25 "2012-08-01T05:33:52Z")
On that note…liquor store owners? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/26 "2012-08-01T06:06:13Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > On that note…liquor store owners? Completely bulletproof. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/27 "2012-08-01T06:26:25Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I read somewhere that insurance actuaries have very high job satisfaction, due to a combination of good pay, relatively low stress and good job security. > > Part of the job security may be due to the fact that qualifying for the job takes a lot of work and brains, limiting the number of potential competitors. We’re not in recession, but I have two actuarial positions vacant at the moment that I’m having trouble filling. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/28 "2012-08-01T07:25:07Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > Bartenders. > > In Tough Times people seek solace at the bottom of a bottle. > [@drewtwo99](#): > > I agree with bartenders. When times are bad, people are there to drink to forget their troubles. When times are good, you’ll still have a job, because people will be there to celebrate! I agree that people will drink more, but will people have the money to go to bars and drink more? I think liquor sales may well go up, but bars will see business slow down. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/29 "2012-08-01T15:35:19Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I read somewhere that insurance actuaries have very high job satisfaction, due to a combination of good pay, relatively low stress and good job security. The insurance industry in general is _relatively_ recession-proof. Most people continue to drive during a recession, and so still need auto insurance. Every item of property is owned by _somebody_ who needs to insure it. With respect to commercial lines, a business may hire fewer people, but it still needs comp and liability insurance for the people it _does_ hire, and a submission for 900 employees requires almost as much work as a submission for 1,000. Then also, with respect to claims handling, accounting, and actuarial, much of the work is time-delayed–we’re still adjusting claims and setting reserves on policies that were written five (or more) years ago. So a modest revenue (premium) decline doesn’t translate into instant mass layoffs like it does in many other industries. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/30 "2012-08-01T16:16:44Z")
I agree with **Freddy the Pig**. I work at a commercial insurance firm and we continue to grow (and have vacancies). While the depressed housing/construction market has limited our growth in that segment, we just shift to other segments to make up for it. And, as Mr. Pig said, claims adjusting is a very long-term need. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/31 "2012-08-01T19:22:35Z")
This Thing of Ours. ---
**Author:** ![M.Constant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@M.Constant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/M.Constant)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/32 "2012-08-01T22:02:42Z")
Computer consulting has worked out pretty well. The theory is that when times are bad, companies don’t want to commit to long term employees. When times are good, they don’t have enough people to get the work done. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/33 "2012-08-02T12:18:35Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > I’m a nurse; I don’t expect to be made redundant anytime soon. That’s not as true as it used to be where I live, at least not for new nurses. Recent grads in the Boston area just cannot get hired, or get hired for per diem only. There are also more stringent requirements. Most hospitals around here will only hire nurses who have a BSN, so if you’re laid off from one hospital and have an ADN or a nursing diploma, you might still have trouble getting hired even if you have years of experience. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/34 "2012-08-02T16:13:12Z")
What **janeslogin** said. Bankruptcy lawyers are doing a booming business.\*\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/35 "2012-08-02T16:19:47Z")
Utilities aren’t bad. People need water and electricity either way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/36 "2012-08-02T16:24:26Z")
I’m a nurse too. The nursing shortage of the past few decades caused a large recruitment of foreign nurses and an increase in Americans entering the profession. Although good (i.e. hospital) jobs are tight, I think nursing home jobs are still pretty available. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/37 "2012-08-03T02:20:08Z")
Adult education, particularly in subjects that are perceived to enhance a person’s resume and make them more attractive to companies, such as computer skills, languages, etc. I think this is one of the few types of industries that are actually enhanced by recessions, as people have more time and education is still viewed as a commodity. The downside is that salaries for educators remain flat during recessions as well. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/38 "2012-08-03T02:28:16Z")
Another kind of attorney: The ones that specialize in certain criminal cases. Example: someone I know just got busted for a DUI, that moron. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991/39 "2012-08-03T02:43:06Z")
I’ve spent most of my working life in the convention/tradeshow business. It holds up very well as your clients (owners/managers of the events) represent every industry. One may be down, but another is up. I wouldn’t call it recession proof, but a recession has to be pretty deep and long before its felt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-categories-are-the-most-nearly-recession-proof/629991.md?page=1)