Recession-Proof Jobs: Is Yours One of Them?

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These are tough times for job seekers. The unemployment rate held steady in June at 5.5%, the highest rate since October 2004. The outlook is especially bleak in residential construction and automobiles, and for workers without a college degree.

But there are employment bright spots, particularly in technology, according to a new report by job listings company Jobfox. Tech-related jobs figure prominently on Jobfox’s list of 20 “recession-proof” occupations. Among the most sought-after positions are software developer, which ranked No. 2; system administrator, who manages increasingly complex corporate networks, at No. 6; and quality-assurance tester, who designs automated processes for testing products, at No. 12. Technology executive, particularly chief technology officer, was ranked No. 16.

Stay Away from Housing

The most in-demand job is sales representative, a sign that employers remain optimistic about their prospects, says CEO Rob McGovern. “The fact that companies are hiring salespeople tells us that they think they can grow out of this recession,” McGovern says. “In the sectors where there isn’t an opportunity for top-line growth, those companies are cutting.” Washington-based Jobfox compiles a monthly list of the professions in greatest demand by recruiters and other employer agents. It mined that data over the eight-month period from November 2007 through July 7, 2008, to compile a list of the 20 jobs with the best median monthly rankings.

Schooling Helps

Growing, cash-rich tech companies may fare particularly well, Greenstein says. “An established company in a growth area that has its act together is in a good position now,” Greenstein says, singling out Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Oracle (ORCL), IBM (IBM), and Intel (INTC) as examples of tech companies that are unlikely to take a big hit. Indeed, on July 15, chipmaking colossus Intel said its second-quarter profit surged 25% (BusinessWeek.com, 7/15/08) amid resilient demand for PCs and consumer electronics. “We see continued healthy demand for our products” in coming quarters, CEO Paul Otellini said in a statement.

Another way to recession-proof a job is through education and experience, figures show. The unemployment figure for those with college degrees was at 2.3% in June, compared with 2.0% a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among management and professional occupations the unemployment rate was 2.7% in June. It was 9.1% for construction and maintenance occupations.

To be sure, the outlook for tech could dim in the event of an extended economic contraction, says Jim Wilcox, an economist at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Much of the tech industry has benefited in part from the dollar’s weakness, which makes U.S. goods less expensive to overseas buyers. “If in fact you have a more serious recession, it is bound to take its toll on business budgets for equipment purchases,” Wilcox says. “And when budgets get cut and people can’t buy new hardware and software, that’s got to hurt Silicon Valley.”

For now, the pain is subdued in Silicon Valley, in particular among software developers, Greenstein says. “[At] the high end of that business, those guys are pretty much recession-proof.”

Twenty Jobs to Ride Out an Economic Slump

Work experience and a college education are key to landing a good job. And some professions remain in higher demand than others. Jobfox, a Washington-based job listing company, compiles a monthly list of the professions in greatest demand by recruiters and other employer agents. It mined that data over the eight-month period of November 2007 through July 7, 2008 to compile a list of the 20 jobs with the best median monthly rankings.

No. 20—Government Contracts Administration

Median Salary: $55,000-$65,000

Government bodies are still spending on contracts, so companies will need someone to oversee the process of bidding on and administering contracts.

Want to get into Government Administration? You have to earn your Public Administration degree first.

No. 19—Mechanical Engineering

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Emerging technologies such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and materials science are fueling the demand for mechanical engineers.

No. 18—Sales Executive

Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000

As is the case with sales representatives, there’s steady demand for a good sales executive who can move products, close deals, and oversee sales personnel.

No. 17—Electrical Engineering

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

The Labor Dept. notes strong demand for engineers with experience in electronic devices.

No. 16—Technology Executive

Median Salary: $115,000-$125,000

Companies want execs especially in the areas of advanced mobile technology and the family of Internet companies collectively referred to as Web 2.0.

Want to become a Technology Executive? You have to earn your computer science degree first.

No. 15—Account/Customer Support

Median Salary: $35,000-$45,000

Keeping customers satisfied is especially crucial when a slumping economy is forcing consumers to cut back on discretionary spending.

No. 14—Database Administration

Median Salary: $75,000-$85,000

The database is among the most valuable assets for a company. And as shown by high-profile leaks of private information, corporations need skilled administrators to run their databases.

No. 13—Product Management

Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000

Jobfox says it sees growth in demand for people who can manage the promotion of a product and maximize its profitability.

No. 12—Testing/Quality Assurance

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

The job market looks especially bright for those who are experts at harnessing automated testing tools to evaluate product quality.

No. 11—Project Management

Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000

Managing a project from inception to close can be challenging, and companies need people who are up to the task.

No. 10—Finance Staff

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Good with numbers? The best positions go to the candidates with the most experience.

No. 9—Business Analysis (Research)

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Though overall demand was robust in the November-July period surveyed, the number of companies clamoring for researchers trailed off in July.

No. 8—Business Analysis (Software Implementation)

Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000

Competition for the top positions is fierce, and timing counts in software implementation.

No. 7— Administrative Assistant

Median Salary: $35,000-$45,000

There’s a constant need to replace assistants as they retire or move on to new careers

No. 6—Networking/Systems Administration

Median Salary: $65,000-$75.000

A relatively small pool of workers have the necessary skills to be a systems administrator, and companies need more and more of them as corporate IT becomes more complex.

No. 5—Accounting Staff

Median Salary: $45,000-$55,000

Companies need good bean counters, whether they’re fresh out of college or have years of experience.

Want to get into Accounting or Finance? You have to earn your Accounting or Finance degree first.

No. 4—Accounting & Finance Executive

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

As accounting rules become more complex and stringent, companies especially need managers who can run their bookkeeping operations.

Want to get into Accounting or Finance? You have to earn your Accounting or Finance degree first

No. 3—Nursing

Median Salary: $35,000-$45,000

As the U.S. population ages and health-care expenses skyrocket, nursing shortages persist.

No. 2—Software Design/Development

Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000

Recession or no, there’s still competition for the top engineering talent, especially in areas of the consumer, user-generated Web.

Want to get into Software Design? You have to earn your computer science degree first.

No. 1—Sales Representative/Business Development

Median Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Slow sales demand good sales people. Experienced sales representatives will probably be in perpetual demand, no matter how the market is behaving.

Want to get into Business Development? You have to earn your business degree first.............(by Albert sun)

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