Recession Proof Careers: The Health Care Field

How many jobs were lost during the current recession? According to cnn.com, more than 2 million jobs were lost during 2008 alone , making it the worst year for employment in the United States since 1945, with 1.9 million of those jobs being lost during the last four months of the year. According to chicagobreakingnew.com, which quoted the Associated Press, many jobs as advertising copywriters, interior designers, and in retail may never be replaced. It was expected that the economy would take five years to replace the more than eight million jobs lost during the recession. There is good news, however, there are a variety of jobs in various fields that are recession proof, some of which may even thrive in a recession, and this article will focus on the health care field. If you are a high school student or younger, or are an adult that is considering changing careers, you might consider the field.

According to the website www.seekingalpha.com, hiring in such medical fields as physician assistants, nursing, lab technicians, doctors' offices, and medical clinics and hospitals had not been slow during the recession. People get sick whether or not the economy is in a good condition or not. The career field is not the only one that is "recession proof," but it is the best career field, as far as job stability to be in during a recession, according to statistics.

According to cnn.com, half of the 30 fastest growing of the most recession proof careers are in the health care field. The article, Is Your Job Recession Proof, by Rachel Zupek, quoted statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those in the health care field in California often receive a $7,500 signing bonus, if they take a position as a nurse in a an area that is having a hard time getting a nurse. Those in more traditional positions may still receive a $3,500 bonus. Some receive $3,000 for relocation expenses, as well as educational expenses. They also receive overtime pay, time off to pursue professional interests, with the option to work four day 12 hour shifts.

Nursing jobs are and jobs for doctors are not the only jobs that have thrived even during the recession. There have been many jobs available for home health care aides, personal aides, health information technicians, physician assistants, and medical records associates.

In some states those pursing health care as a profession may not only find it is truly a "recession proof career." They may be surprised at how much assistance may be available to them.

Some hospitals subsidize faculty positions, which allows for more nursing students. Others give rent free spaces to those teaching college and high school nursing classes. Some forgive a portion of student loans for nursing students, offer scholarships, or even pay the full price of a degree for those willing to work at their hospital for a certain period of time.

For those thinking about what career field they want to choose when they graduate, or are thinking about entering a different career field, they might find the health care field is indeed "recession proof."

Citations:

Providing Financial Support, no author listed, Iha.org

Worst year for jobs since '45, by David Goldman, money.cnn.com

Millions of jobs likely gone for good, no author listed, Chicagobreakingbusiness.com

Recession-Proof Jobs in 2009-2010 by Rana Sinha

Healthcare Jobs Remain Most Recession-Proof, no author listed, Seekingalpha.com

Is your job recession-proof? by Rachel Zupek, Money.cnn.com