Recession-resistant careers in healthcare industry

It's not all rainbows and butterflies with the economy just yet, and we all know that. Many of us are on the hunt for recession resistant careers, hoping to turn up a golden goose egg of sorts that will never give out even in the worst economic climate. But are such careers really out there? Or is it all a combination of luck in all it's different forms when it comes to keeping your job in these uncertain times?

According to a Kiplinger article (see resources below) written straight after the crash in 2008, there are actually some clearly defined fields in which jobs are always going to grow, even if at a stunted rate. Topping the list was the healthcare industry, because of an increasingly aging population and the fact that we're always going to need a doctor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed healthcare careers as doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist and physician assistant to grow in leaps and bounds in the coming decade. Fast forward to the 2012 report on Industry Employment and it's results. Curious? The BLS still counts healthcare and social assistance as one of the top contributors for job growth in the nation, saying that the Health Care and Social Assistance Sector and the Professional and Business Services Sector will account for almost half the projected job growth from 2010 to 2020!^*,**,***

For those of you who are looking at the healthcare industry as a big behemoth that you're afraid of tackling head-on, try the "baby steps" approach. There are jobs that can act as great stepping stones to a fulfilling career in healthcare in Medical Transcription, Pharmacy Tech or Medical Assistance. Starting out with some basic training on an online vocational training school to understand the foundations of the trade, learn skills and get information needed to perform optimally on it. Online training programs don't cost thousands of dollars (unlike college), can be completed at your own pace and can even help you earn while you learn should you decide to complete a formal college degree program.

There are other job profiles that don't require medical knowledge or a passion for helping people with healthcare as a prerequisite, like technical support and office support. Even the medical industry will seek to fill jobs in technical and administrative support, like IT support for data and record management, and office assistance in healthcare administration. You can also find computer technician and administrative assistant training programs online if they pique your interest, or you're not interested in learning coursework that has medical jargon but just want an assured job in the future.

If you really want your career to be recession-proof no matter what sector you work in, find ways to make yourself indispensable at work. Make sure to always brush up on your skills, and find new ways to increase your exposure to new trends in business, like social platforms for communication, regular updating and data entry on websites and technology used in business analysis and development.

Resources:

*kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2008/st0326.htm

**bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/01/art4full.pdf

***bls.gov/ooh/about/projections-overview.htm