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There’s no such thing as a 100% recession-proof job. Recessions sometimes strike jobs in unexpected ways, depending on the cause of the recession and the local impact. Top 31 recession-proof jobs and careers—do they exist?

That said, some jobs stay safer than others in an economic downturn.

Although many classic recession-resistant jobs require an advanced degree, such as medical doctors, other jobs don’t even require a college degree. Some recession-resistant jobs let you work from anywhere, whether you want to work from home or travel the world.

Top Recession-Proof Jobs on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Now might be the ideal time to change careers, not only to increase your income but also to safeguard your career in the event of a global recession.

As you prepare for the next recession, keep the following jobs in mind.

1. Health Care Professionals

People get sick whether gross domestic product (GDP) grows or shrinks. In fact, during a recession, stress factors increase, and public health in general often suffers more. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

That means health care workers like doctors, nurses, physician assistants, medical technicians, and hospital administrators remain mostly untouched by recessions. That extends to nonmedical workers who work for health care facilities, such as receptionists, janitors, and public-relations officers.

The one exception to this rule lies in elective medical service providers, such as cosmetic surgeons. In a recession, fewer people opt for facelifts or tummy tucks.

Dentists, orthodontists, and other dental workers sometimes see a reduction in appointments too. Many insurance plans don’t cover dentistry, so some patients skip their six-month cleaning and return after a year instead. Still, dental professionals tend to see less recessionary impact than many other industries.

2. Physical & Occupational Therapists

Similarly, physical and occupational therapy are part of the treatment for many ailments and the recovery process for most surgical procedures. Most comprehensive health insurance policies cover at least some of the costs, and these treatments aren’t optional.

Although physical and occupational therapists often see a slight decline in demand as cash-strapped patients postpone elective surgeries or treatments, their jobs and income remain far more insulated than most in a recession.

3. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Professionals on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

On the one hand, people may halt their twice-per-week therapy sessions if they or their spouse loses their job. On the other, stress levels skyrocket during recessions, causing more mental health challenges, more marital problems, and more substance abuse, according to a study published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.

That means counsellors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and substance abuse workers stay in strong demand, even in recessions.

Those who specialise in more elective treatments, such as hypnotherapy, may need to lower their rates to maintain regular business. Substance abuse clinics and psychiatric units see more patients during a recession.

In times of high stress, people suffer. And we all react differently to that suffering. Some endure panic attacks, others anxiety disorders. Some individuals express their frustration towards their spouses, while others resort to substance abuse.

So mental health and substance abuse professionals stay busy during recessions.

4. Social Workers

Likewise, social workers see no shortage of demand when the economy tanks. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Social workers ultimately help people cope with their problems. When families become stressed, child abuse rates can rise. Child behavioural problems increase, as do adult behavioural and emotional issues.

Most social workers operate in the public sector, which doesn’t experience wild employment swings even during recessions, so they are doubly protected.

5. Senior Care Providers on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Just as people still become sick during recessions, they still age too. Not all can age in place safely and comfortably, and even those who can often require at-home help.

Others have no choice but to move into an assisted living facility. Regardless of their housing arrangement, they still need elder care, recession or no. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Senior care workers include nurses, orderlies, cleaners, cooks, and other support staff members. Their jobs remain relatively immune to the movement of the economy.

6. Hospice Workers

The same goes for hospice workers. Beyond traditional elder care, hospice care keeps the dying comfortable as they approach the end of their lives.

It’s a specialised form of care, and it takes a particular type of person to administer it. But no one postpones their departure from this world based on economic conditions. Quite the opposite — recessions boost stress levels, which can trigger cardiovascular crises and other life-threatening events.

All of which means that in periods of both growth and contraction, the world needs hospice workers.

7. Funeral Workers on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Because people die whether GDP grows or plummets, they still need caskets or urns, burial plots or cremation, funerals, and wakes. Death rates may actually increase slightly during recessions, boosting business across an otherwise stable industry that’s relatively difficult to break into.

Although family members may choose less expensive options during recessions, they can’t forego funerals entirely. As Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”

8. Accountants & Auditors

Speaking of taxes, regardless of the state of the economy, everyone is required to file a tax return.

True, they can prepare their tax returns themselves using tax return software like TaxAct or TurboTax. But many taxpayers risk making mistakes that cost more in higher taxes than the cost of hiring an accountant — or worse, mistakes that trigger an audit.

Auditors see consistent demand during recessions. And not just IRS auditors, either. Publicly traded companies undergo frequent audits and must file quarterly financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Financial regulations and tax laws don’t go away during recessions, so neither does demand for accountants and auditors.

9. Actuaries on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Actuaries help businesses analyse risks. During times of economic crisis, both private companies and government agencies are particularly concerned about risk.

Some actuaries work with companies to review efficiency and the best places to cut spending with minimal financial and employment consequences for the company. Others work with insurers to help them understand the risk of benefit payouts compared to premium pricing.

Most remain in high demand, even when the economy takes a turn for the worse.

10. Insurance Providers, Underwriters, & Appraisers

Yes, insurance companies see a dip in demand during recessions. With fewer people employed, fewer people end up having health insurance and life insurance.

But most people keep their jobs and their insurance policies. Even when they are unemployed, many families prioritise health insurance as a mandatory expense.

And homeowners with a mortgage must maintain homeowner’s insurance as a condition of the loan. They don’t have a choice but to keep it. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

The same goes for car owners. To legally drive a car, you must maintain at least liability coverage in case you hit someone else.

That means insurance agents, underwriters, and other insurance professionals keep writing policies in recessions. Claim adjusters and appraisers also remain active, especially during difficult times when policyholders may file a claim instead of paying out of pocket to avoid premium increases.

11. Firefighters, Fire Inspectors & Investigators on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Fires happen regardless of economic activity. In fact, when buildings sit vacant—as happens more frequently in recessions—they face a higher risk of fire, as do surrounding buildings, per a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A study by the National Fire Protection Association found that from 2003 to 2015, vacant building fires peaked in 2008 and gradually declined thereafter, particularly in the real estate recovery period after 2012.

Which says nothing of arson or those higher insurance claim figures mentioned above. The National Fire Protection Association study noted that fully half of all vacant building fires are started intentionally.

In times of economic downturn, firefighters and other fire-related individuals, such as inspectors and investigators, stay busy.

12. Law Enforcement

From beat cops to detectives, CSIs to sergeants, federal agents, and beyond, law enforcement workers don’t stop fighting crime during downturns. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

As public workers, police officers remain somewhat buffered from layoffs. However, they also maintain their employment because no one wants a rise in crime to exacerbate the effects of a recession.

In the 20th century, evidence showed a clear correlation between economic conditions and crime rates. Young men often see the highest unemployment rates during recessions, according to a United States Bureau of Labour and Statistics analysis of the years 2007 through 2009. That leaves them with a surplus of time and a dearth of money.

The Great Recession actually bucked that trend, with data sources showing a decrease in crime rates, according to an overview by the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. But the pandemic-induced recession of 2020 and its aftermath did see a spike in crime rates and civil unrest.

Choose your own adventure, perhaps. But regardless of the sociological impact of recessions, law enforcement officers tend not to lose their jobs when times are tough.

13. Corrections Workers

Similarly, corrections workers such as corrections officers, parole boards, and probation officers don’t see layoffs during recessions.

Prisoners don’t walk free just because GDP drops. Jails and prisons operate as usual, and everyone who works there continues doing so. Again, if crime increases during recessions, prisons may actually become busier, albeit with a bit of a lag to allow for legal process. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

14. Judiciary Workers

The courts stay open too. That goes for both criminal and civil courts, and everyone who works in them.

Workers, including clerks, judges, bailiffs, sheriffs, bail bond agents, and bounty hunters, all continue to work as usual. So do the satellite services that cater to them, such as paid parking lots and lunch cafes. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

In a rare exception to this rule, the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered or delayed some court proceedings. However, the public health crisis, not the economic crisis, caused this.

Regardless of public health emergencies, the courts remain open regardless of the weather.

15. Military & Defence Personnel on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

The nation’s armed forces are about as recession-proof as it gets.

Security concerns around the world don’t just disappear when a recession hits. Defence spending may fluctuate over the course of decades, but on a year-to-year basis the military doesn’t just lay off personnel due to budget cuts.

In fact, whereas state employment tends to be more volatile, it’s extremely difficult to fire federal workers at all. The federal workforce was one of the few employment bright spots during the Great Recession.

16. Federal Employees

Few employers offer the job security of the federal government. I’ve had many friends work for Uncle Sam over the years – including some who did very little actual work – and they knew just how difficult it was to become fired.

Public employees also enjoy enormous job benefits. From pensions and other retirement plans to outstanding health insurance to generous paid time off, government workers often make up for mediocre pay cheques with mighty benefits.

Those benefits and job security provide stability not just for you but for your whole family. For example, my income fluctuates wildly as I’m self-employed, but I can sleep soundly knowing my wife’s job in education provides all our family benefits and a solid household income floor.

17. Educators on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Kids don’t stop going to school because of recessions. Neither do college and graduate students, for that matter.

In fact, colleges and graduate schools see higher enrolment rates during recessions, according to Stanford economist Caroline Hoxby’s research from the 1960s through the Great Recession. With fewer job openings, particularly for those without degrees, young adults tend to postpone their entry into the job market by enrolling in higher education.

Teachers, professors, school administrators, athletic coaches, researchers, and support staff like groundskeepers all tend to have safe jobs during downturns. Schools make excellent sanctuaries during turbulent times, for students and employees alike. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

That said, most schools and universities closed during the coronavirus outbreak. Salaried employees such as teachers and administrators continued earning pay cheques, but it left many colleges thinking more critically about where they can trim costs and keep their tuition more competitive moving forward.

18. Public Utility Workers

No matter the economy, everyone still needs utility services like electricity, gas, water, sewer service, telephones, and internet.

Local governments operate some of these providers directly. Others operate privately with a state-sanctioned monopoly, but the government regulates them all aggressively. In nearly all cases, providers don’t compete in the traditional market sense. And even if they did, they don’t see much reduction in usage. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

So technicians, customer service reps, and administrators for public utilities all generally keep their jobs during downturns.

19. Long-Term Real Estate Investors on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Although house flippers may have trouble finding buyers during a recession, long-term investors often find excellent buying opportunities. With fewer buyers but plenty of distressed sellers, they can score excellent deals on investment properties. You can search for properties on the MLS or through platforms like Roofstock.

Landlords sometimes struggle during recessions as tenant default rates rise. Contrary to popular opinion, landlords hate evicting tenants — it’s the most expensive outcome for them, involving months of unpaid rent, costly turnover-related repairs, and marketing expenses in filling vacancies.

For investors looking for a bargain, recessions present an excellent buying opportunity. The trick is to keep your cash flow alive until the economy normalizes. You still have all your expenses even if your tenants stop paying rent, which is more likely in a recession. That includes not just your mortgage payment, but also repairs, maintenance, property taxes, property insurance, accounting and bookkeeping costs, and legal costs.

Consider buying rent default insurance through companies like Steady to weather the recession. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

20. Marketers (Who Can Document Results) Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Traditional attitudes toward marketing go like this: For every dollar spent, companies expect to see more than a dollar returned in higher revenues.

Mediocre marketers suffer during recessions as companies look for costs to cut. But any marketer who can prove their results keeps their job.

It’s an easy enough conversation: “I make you money. You spent $100,000 on my marketing budget last year, and for that cost, my campaigns generated $150,000 in revenue for you. Not only should you keep me, but you should double my marketing budget to boost your earnings further.”

21. Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs continue flowing, regardless of the economy. People who need heart medication to avoid cardiovascular failure tend to prioritise it over other expenses, for example.

And for every person who stops taking Viagra because they can’t afford it, someone else requires anxiety medication to get through the stress of the recession.

Pharmaceuticals are entrenched in modern life, and people will find a way to get their drugs — legal or otherwise — even during times of hardship. Scratch that: especially during times of hardship.

22. IT Workers on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Networks, databases, websites, and communications all still need to operate around the clock. Information technology is an enormous umbrella field, and most workers remain in demand, even in a recession.

That includes computer systems analysts, network administrators, data analysts, database engineers, programmers and developers, website designers, project managers, and hundreds of other specialists. The internet must go on. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

In fact, many companies look for ways to increase automation during recessions to lower costs. Enter: IT specialists.

Still, some tech workers may find their job at increased risk of offshoring during a recession. They should prepare an argument for why their job should remain local and what they bring to the table in higher efficiency and skill compared to cheaper overseas alternatives.

23. Grocers

If anything, people buy more groceries during recessions because they eat fewer meals out at restaurants.

Those groceries may include lower-cost items, like chicken breasts instead of New York strip steaks, but everyone needs to eat. Grocery stores tend to weather economic storms intact.

The same pattern holds with alcohol spending. Fewer people blow money at the bar, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they stop drinking. They simply buy their booze at the grocery store or liquor store. These days, they don’t even have to leave home, thanks to grocery delivery services like Instacart.

In fact, research from the State University of New York at Buffalo suggests that many people drank more as a coping mechanism for stress during the Great Recession. The trend held during the COVID-19 recession as well.

24. Veterinarians on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Like humans, pets still get sick and injured during recessions. But because most people don’t carry pet health insurance, pet health care does dip in recessions.

Although vets should expect reduced patronage, most maintain more than enough business to stay in practice, even during recessions. A survey conducted at the height of the Great Recession by the Veterinary Information Network found that nearly half of vet practices — 45% — actually saw an uptick in volume rather than a decline. They concluded that veterinarians weather recessions far better than most professions.

25. Divorce Attorneys, Mediators, & Arbitrators

Evidence remains mixed about divorce rates during recessions. Hardship may keep some couples together but split others apart amid crushing financial stress.

For example, one Great Recession study by the University of Maryland didn’t find an overall spike in divorces but did find that divorce rates rose among college-educated couples in areas with high foreclosure rates. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Regardless, couples certainly don’t stop getting divorced during recessions. That leaves no shortage of work for divorce attorneys, mediators, and arbitrators during downturns. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

26. Bankruptcy Attorneys & Staff on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Sadly, bankruptcy filings do spike during recessions. That means abundant work for bankruptcy attorneys.

And not just attorneys themselves, but everyone who works at their firms. That includes paralegals, secretaries, and administrative assistants. Keep these law firms in mind as an option during downturns, especially if you work in another area of the law that suffers during recessions.

27. Credit & Debt Counselors

Not everyone who gets in over their head with debt declares bankruptcy. But they still often need help clawing their way out of the hole.

Debt and credit counsellors can help consumers prioritise debts, pay them down using strategies like the debt snowball method, avoid high-interest debts and predatory lenders, and improve their credit scores. Many can also help consumers negotiate with creditors.

If there’s ever a time when people need these services, it’s during and after recessions. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

28. Auto Mechanics & Body Shops

Although car owners may try to postpone elective repairs during downturns, many (even most) auto repairs don’t fall under that category.

You can’t drive without brake pads or a transmission. You might skip a $50 regular tune-up, but you can’t skip major repairs that prevent your car from driving safely and legally. And that missed tune-up might even create more repair problems a few months later.

Many owners of older cars opt to keep fixing them rather than buying a new vehicle during recessions. Older cars need frequent repairs, but they’re still usually cheaper than the alternative of a hefty new purchase.

Plus, people still get into accidents. So both mechanical and body repair shops continue to get plenty of work.

29. Librarians & Archivists on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Most librarians and archivists work in the public sector and find their jobs relatively safe, even during recessions.

In today’s world, libraries provide far more free services than simply lending books. Many offer technology classes for low-income families and free computer and internet usage. Beyond books, they lend out videos, audiobooks, and sometimes other forms of entertainment and education, such as video games.

Many also offer free or extremely cheap workstations and conference rooms, filling the same niche as coworking spaces. When I’m home in the U.S. visiting family, I often work from the local library. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Far from becoming obsolete, libraries continue to evolve and fill a crucial need in our communities.

30. Public Transit Workers

In times of recession, more people than ever rely on public transportation. That creates job safety for those who provide it.

From bus drivers to train conductors to ticket sellers and beyond, public transit workers remain as safe as anyone when the economy shrinks.

31 Drivers on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

I remember seeing all these driverless cars around the Bay Area back in 2009, beta testing the technology. All the pundits pontificated that every driving-orientated job would be obsolete by 2020.

We all know how that prediction turned out. Quite the opposite, in fact: the rise in rideshare and food delivery apps has only created more demand for drivers, not less.

Millions of people continue to work in this space, whether as employees or gig economy workers. Beyond rideshare drivers, these workers include truckers, couriers, parcel delivery drivers, and more.

And during recessions, people still need things delivered, from Happy Meals to cheap clothes.

I have no doubt the day will come when self-driving cars make many driving jobs obsolete. But it hasn’t happened yet, and it might not happen until after this decade.

Final Word on Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

Recessions are painful, and few people can claim immunity. No one knows this better than those out of work and looking for a job.

Still, some professions — such as jobs in construction and finance — get hit harder than others during a recession. Others manage to escape largely unscathed. Top 31 Recession-Proof Jobs & Careers – Do They Exist?

If you worry your job’s days are numbered or you’ve already lost your job, look to the professions above as relative safe havens during times of trouble. Although not recession-proof, they certainly offer more protection than most during downturns.

Don’t be afraid to go back to school to retool your skill set, even while on unemployment. By the time you get your degree or certification, the economic clouds may have passed and the hiring market might look much brighter.