In short
Jobs that tend to hold up in recessions are tied to things people cannot put off: healthcare, utilities, essential repairs and public safety. Examples without a bachelor's degree include LPNs, respiratory therapists, power line installers, plumbers and maintenance workers. None is guaranteed, but demand for these services drops less when budgets tighten.
Steady-demand jobs
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental hygienists | $98,100 | Associate degree | 8% | 15,000 |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers (BLS) | $95,320 | High school or GED | 10.3% | 10,900 |
| 3 | Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | Associate degree | 8.5% | 8,600 |
| 4 | Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | Associate degree | 5% | 13,000 |
| 5 | Police and sheriff's patrol officers (BLS) | $76,210 | High school or GED | 3.5% | 51,500 |
| 6 | Surgical technologists | $64,650 | Certificate | 5% | 7,100 |
| 7 | Industrial machinery mechanics (BLS) | $64,520 | High school or GED | 17.8% | 44,400 |
| 8 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,400 | Certificate | 3% | 51,800 |
| 9 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | High school or GED | 6.8% | 42,000 |
| 10 | Electricians | $63,190 | High school or GED | 9.2% | 72,700 |
| 11 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 | Certificate | 10.9% | 40,600 |
| 12 | Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (BLS) | $60,020 | High school or GED | a decline of 5.7% | 10,000 |
| 13 | Firefighters | $59,280 | Certificate | 3.7% | 26,800 |
| 14 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $58,640 | Certificate | 3.8% | 214,500 |
| 15 | Medical records specialists | $51,140 | Certificate | 7.8% | 14,000 |
| 16 | Maintenance and repair workers, general (BLS) | $49,590 | High school or GED | 4.2% | 148,700 |
| 17 | Dental assistants | $48,070 | Certificate | 7.4% | 53,000 |
| 18 | Medical secretaries and administrative assistants | $45,930 | High school or GED | 4.8% | 89,200 |
| 19 | Pharmacy technicians | $45,750 | High school or GED | 6.4% | 44,700 |
| 20 | Medical assistants | $45,690 | Certificate | 12.9% | 109,700 |
| 21 | Phlebotomists | $45,230 | Certificate | 6.8% | 18,000 |
| 22 | Nursing assistants | $42,260 | Certificate | 2.6% | 196,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.
Why these hold up
Healthcare spending is driven by an aging population and medical need, not by whether people feel rich. Utility and repair work keeps going because buildings, water and power cannot wait. Construction of new buildings is a different story: it often slows in recessions, so repair and maintenance roles are steadier than new-build trades.
Make yourself harder to lay off
- Hold a license or certification the employer must have on staff.
- Work for a hospital, utility or government agency rather than a startup.
- Keep a second skill, like a CDL or a phlebotomy certificate.
Questions people ask
What is the most recession-proof job?
Healthcare roles like nursing are often cited because demand is driven by need. No job is fully immune.
Are trades recession-proof?
Repair and maintenance trades tend to hold up better than new construction, which can slow sharply.
Is government work safer in a recession?
Often, though budgets can still cause hiring freezes.