What's recession-proof?

Posted at 5:58 AM on December 9, 2008 by Bob Collins (10 Comments)
Filed under: Economy, The jobs we do

Two stories today remind us that these are not normal times, and not even normal downturns. In a normal economic "downturn," there are recession-proof jobs, jobs that are so critical, or fill a need of the times so perfectly, they can't possible be eliminated.

Health care is one such historical recession-proof job. But two large area health care organizations have announced cutbacks. Park Nicollet Health Services and North Memorial Health Care will trim 613 jobs.

"My colleagues thought health care was recession proof," Lawrence Massa, president of the Minnesota Hospital Association, told the Star Tribune. "We're seeing that's not the case."

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports today, another recession-proof gig is endangered -- prostitution.

Big Sister is not the only brothel suffering the effects of a battered global economy. While the world's oldest profession may also be one of its most recession-proof businesses, brothel owners in Europe and the United States say the global financial crisis is hurting a once lucrative industry.

Egbert Krumeich, the manager of Artemis, Berlin's largest brothel, said that in November, usually peak season for the sex trade, revenues were down by 20 percent. In Reno, Nev., the famed Mustang Ranch recently laid off 30 percent of its staff, citing a decline in high-spending clients.

An article on Yahoo Jobs earlier this year suggested education is a recession-proof job. Teaching? Have you seen the size of the state's projected budget deficit?

Forbes says there's always jobs for salespeople, although now they're called "business development specialists."

What about you? Are recession-proof? If so, I'd like to talk to you about your job for News Cut's "The Jobs We Do" category. Use this form or e-mail me.

(Posting here will be very light today. I'm driving to Worthington today to meet with officials at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. It will be on of the stops on the News Cut on Campus tour starting next month. Each Wednesday I'll be at a different college/university in Minnesota, talking to students about their journey and their outlook. Stops will include, White Bear Lake, Ely, Duluth, Worthington, Winona, and Moorhead. Everybody has an interesting story to tell and if you're in college, I'd like to tell yours. So stay tuned for more information.)

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Comments (10)

Bob,

Stop it! You're making the recession worse!

Everyone ignore Bob.

I was watching the local news the other day and there are these websites that will help everyone find jobs, all you have to do is go to a website. Just last night a reporter pointed out that we'll all have enough money as long as we use cupons and buy stuff on sale. Another brilliant story suggested that we live off our income instead of racking up more personal debt. A twenty something financial adviser says you should prioritize your spending, put the stuff you need like food, heat, and electricity at the top, and stuff you don't need like a like new lamp at the bottom. After I looked up the word "prioritize" I realized that this was really good advice and will probably end the recession very soon!

The best news is that our governor is going to Israel! Just imagine all the jobs he's going to create! All you have to do is add up all the jobs he's created with all his other trade missions and multiply that by something like ten times! Deficit shmecifit, good times are rolling our way baby!

Posted by Paul | December 9, 2008 9:09 AM

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Even Playboy is cutting back. (link is to businessweek)

Posted by MR | December 9, 2008 9:12 AM

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I forgot,

I'll tell ya what's recession proof Mr. My attitude!

Posted by Paul | December 9, 2008 9:26 AM

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hmmm...Low Income Housing?

Posted by B2 | December 9, 2008 10:24 AM

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bars & liquor stores? I have only heard this anecdotally; is there any data that the alcohol industry is recession-proof?

Posted by Mac Wilson | December 9, 2008 12:56 PM

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mortuaries
pawnshops
auto repair
anything monopolistic (gas, electric, etc.)
criminal justice services

Posted by Bob | December 9, 2008 2:05 PM

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mortuaries
pawnshops
auto repair
anything monopolistic (gas, electric, etc.)
criminal justice services

I imagine people spend less on mortuary services, I don't know what the profit margins are. There was a story not long ago about how the roads may become a little more unsafe because people will delay car repairs. Monopolies can be hurt if people don't pay the bills. Police and fire layoffs are not unheard of, nor is under staffing at prisons and jails, especially privatized ones. section 8 (welfare housing) has already been hit by budget cuts, note the homeless rates will be going up now. I think bars are aleady being hit, they blame it on the smoking ban but there's more going on here. Alcohol is discretionary spending for most people so sales will go down. Pawnshops are essentially retail, if people stop buying their not immune.

I'd say in this recession certain military contractors, ammunition suppliers, etc. are pretty safe, but if manufacturers try to use the recession to cut wages and bust unions you may see labor unrest there as well.

Posted by Paul | December 9, 2008 4:07 PM

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Paul, thanks for the laugh!

Posted by Heather | December 9, 2008 4:50 PM

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I think my job is pretty recession proof...I work for Target, which, even with it's stock dropping, I feel very secure, in my particular position.

I work in Advertising Production, which would normally seem like the first thing to cut back! However, I work in a "money saving" position, instead of "money spending." I work in Target's in-house prop & set facility. We've been in operation for about 15 years; the brain child of my boss, Michelle, and save Target's advertising budgets over 3 million dollars a year! We're closing in on 3.5 million this year! When considering the budgets for some advertising projects, this number is humbled a bit, but hey, I still live in the real world and understand that 3 million dollars is 3 million dollars.

We do this by simple recycling. Every time anything new is built or purchased to produce a project, it is returned to the Prop Shop, sorted and stored. Then, the next time something trival, like a pair of kids' shoes, or toothbrush, or something as large as a house and front lawn, is needed, we've got it! No need to buy something time after time, when you have a team of organized pack-rats keeping track of it all. We track the value of every item used, and how many times it is used. This is how we know how much the reuse is saving Target.

I feel recession proof because I just wouldn't understand the logic of shutting down a vital money & time saving department/resource of a company who's famous for it's advertising.

We are always busy. We are never out of work to do. I feel very secure.

Posted by Lynn Johnson | December 10, 2008 5:07 PM

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Commercial building services may not be totally recession-proof but much of it is certainly recession-resistant. For example, all buildings in Minnesota (whether 100% or 50% occupied) need heat, and when that heat is not working, it must be fixed - call in the heating service contractor. Providing this and other necessary services on a contract basis dramatically stabilizes any fluctuations in the economy. As of yet, we have not seen a drop in business.

Posted by John | December 11, 2008 9:17 AM

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