1 Top Career
Sales (Sales Manager, Sales Exec)
In a recession companies will hire and retain the people that drive revenue and continue to bring money into the company. A sales person is absolutely imperative to keeping a business alive in a recession. There are several pathways that lead to a career in sales, but likely the most direct and effective way to become a sales person is to obtain a degree in Business.
Average salary: $55,000 to $65,000

Popular Schools for Sales Degrees
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
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2 Top Career
Accounting (Accountant, Controller)
Even when profits are down or a company is losing money, they'll need someone to organize the money and account for it. In a recession, the accountant's job will likely become more important because they will be able to find ways to save the company money or cut areas that are non-profit driven. So, although there may be less money to count, someone still has to count it and that will mean that accounting jobs will be in demand in a recession.
Average salary: $40,000 to $55,000

Popular Schools for Accounting Degrees
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.
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3 Top Career
Health Care (Lab Assistant, Pharmacist, Chiropractor)
Even in a recession, there are lots of careers in health care. Careers such as pharmacists, medical lab technicians and lab assistants are all jobs that have proved to be recession proof. With so many people retiring the jobs will open up and there could be as much as 50% growth over the next 5 years in the health care sector.
Average salary: $50,000 to $75,000

Popular Schools for Health Care Degrees
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
Choose A School
4 Top Career
Information Technology (System Administrator, Web Developer)
Information Technology (IT) professionals will be necessary in order for companies to succeed, even in times of a recession. Companies will require system administrators, database administrators and project managers to ensure that their websites, programs and databases are working correctly and efficiently. Many businesses today drive a significant amount of revenue through an IT related marketplace and so IT professionals are very important to staying alive in a recession.
Average salary: $50,000 to $80,000

Popular Schools for Information Technology Degrees
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
Choose A School
5 Top Career
Criminal Justice (Police Officer, Crime Scene Investigator)
In poor economic times, when people are feeling down and depressed, there will be an increased demand for trained professionals in Criminal Justice. Police, Fireman, Security and Military careers are all an important aspect of a society, regardless of the economic situation. Careers in Criminal Justice can be both rewarding and fulfilling, with regards to self-satisfaction and monetary needs.
Average salary: $40,000 to $70,000

Popular Schools for Criminal Justice Degrees
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
Choose A School
6 Top Career
Administration (Office Manager, Administrative Assistant)
Administrative and secretarial roles provide support to a department or individual and help them succeed. Without the administrative person or team, most departments cannot focus on making money for the company. Most businesses focus on doing what they do best and each department within the company is focused on their tasks. This means that someone will have to deal with the day to day functions and make sure that the office runs smoothly. Therefore, the administrative team is very important.
Average salary: $35,000 to $50,000

Popular Schools for Administration Degrees
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.
Choose A School
7 Top Career
Nursing (Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse)
As our population continues to age there will be an increased need for nurses to take care of the aging population. When the economic situation is dire people will still need to be taken care of and they will continue to get sick and/or injured. This means that they will always need someone to take care of them in the hospital, home or care facility.
Average salary: $55,000 to $65,000

Popular Schools for Nursing Degrees
- Kaplan University Online
Kaplan University Online
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work. Kaplan offers working adults like you online programs in Criminal Justice, Technology and Design, Paralegal Studies, and Business. Don't need a degree? Kaplan University also offers Continuing Education certificates in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning, and Financial Planning.
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8 Top Career
Business (Human Resources, Marketing, Manager)
A key driver to a successful economy and an important part of correcting the economy is business. Most businesses will prepare ahead for tough times and re-focus their energies and strategies in order to ride through the tough times. Just because the economy is down, it doesn't mean that all businesses aren't doing well, some businesses will do very well in a recession. There will always be jobs in business, it's just a matter of which company or career specialty will have the available jobs.
Average salary: $50,000 to $85,000

Popular Schools for Business Degrees
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
Choose A School
9 Top Career
Education (Teacher, Principal, College Professor)
Education is an essential part of life, people will always need to go to school and learn. In fact, in an economic downturn people will go back to school to get more educated and get trained in another skill set. Teachers and professor's can expect to feel very secure in their job when the economy is down. Teachers are an important part of the future generations and education will always receive funding to ensure that students are learning effectively.
Average salary: $45,000 to $65,000

Popular Schools for Education Degrees
- Kaplan University Online
Kaplan University Online
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work. Kaplan offers working adults like you online programs in Criminal Justice, Technology and Design, Paralegal Studies, and Business. Don't need a degree? Kaplan University also offers Continuing Education certificates in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning, and Financial Planning.
Choose A School
10 Top Career
Paralegal (Legal Assistant, Mediator)
Similar to how administrative staff will be required in a recession, Paralegals will be very important as well. In fact, the more bankruptcies and home foreclosures there are, the more a Paralegal will be needed to handle the paperwork and administrative duties involved. Paralegal jobs are always in high demand and the outlook for Paralegal jobs has been better than average lately.
Average salary: $40,000 to $60,000

Popular Schools for Paralegal Degrees
- Strayer University
Strayer University
Established in 1892, Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. Our flexible programs make it possible for you to earn your degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
- Virginia College Online
Virginia College Online
(VCO) is an accredited institution that offers career-track degrees that you can earn from home, at work, or while you travel.