With economic specialists warning the U.S. economy is poised to enter a recession unlike any other by the end of 2021, caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen to all of us. Millions of people in industries such as tourism, hospitality and education have already lost their jobs, so, who’s to say your job is not going to be next?
Economic crises affect jobs in different and unexpected ways, but there are certain sectors that are safer than others in the event of a recession. If you’re curious to find out how safe your job really is, here’s a list of recession-proof occupations and careers. If yours is not on the list, it’s never too late to switch careers to protect your income in the case of a global recession. Speaking of which, you might also like to know more about these 13 Things You Shouldn’t Purchase During a Recession.
Government Workers
-
- 2007 unemployment rate: 2.2%
-
- Peak unemployment rate during Great Recession: 5.1%
- Change of unemployment rate during Great Recession: 131.82%
- 2020 unemployment rate: 1.6%
- Forecasted recession peak unemployment rate: 3.7%
Compared to other industries, it seems that working for the Government could get you through any recession. Take the Great Recession, for example. During the global economic downturn that began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, federal, state and local government workers had the lowest unemployment rate compared to all other jobs on our list that resists during hard economic times.
Epidemiologist
Median hourly wage: $33.49
Median annual wage: $69,660
In the current context of the global pandemic, being an epidemiologist is one of the most important jobs out there. Also known as “disease detectives”, epidemiologists are now on the front lines, trying to find a treatment for the vicious coronavirus. Even before the age of COVID-19, epidemiologists have been dealing with other viruses such as HIV, Ebola and so on.
Epidemiologists work at federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and at state or local health departments. To occupy such positions, they are required to have a master’s degree in public health or a doctoral degree in epidemiology.
