On any given day the media tells us we may be headed into a recession: We’re in a cyclical, event-driven or structural bear market—and the likelihood of a recession is all but inevitable in the coming months or year, they say. So how do you begin to weigh your future against forces over which you have little control?

One great way you may avert becoming an unemployment statistic is to consider getting an online education or training in what are called recession-proof careers; that is, stable jobs that will need to be done no matter what the economic picture is. Even better is the required education for some of these careers, called “trades,” can be moderately short in duration—sometimes a year or less—and may be completed at least partially online.

How an economic downturn affects the job market

Companies cut costs, people lose jobs

In an economic downturn, companies—large and small—tend to prioritize ways to cut costs rather than expand and create new jobs. This may even be more consequential for small businesses. When people lose jobs due to budget cuts or other reasons, consumers have less money to spend and tighten their own belts.

If they become unemployed, they may need to utilize government programs to assist them through the downturn. And there are fewer jobs to pursue due to companies cutting costs. In short, it’s a cycle that leads to an increase in the unemployment rate as individuals struggle to find new job opportunities, but because businesses have fewer customers or clients, they have fewer jobs to offer.

The trades are insulated because they are a necessity

The primary reason trades are thought to be recession-proof in any economic climate is because they are needed, no matter what’s going on in the economy. Who doesn’t need a car repair, a broken pipe fixed, or a blown outlet replaced? We’re not claiming that trades are 100% recession-proof because there are other factors that play into an industry having a peak or valley, just that these are crafts and skills that are needed even during a recession.

As an example, even if you’re in the process of looking for a job, you may still need a haircut so you look your best, or if your laptop goes on the fritz, you’ll need computer support so you can send out resumes or file for your unemployment benefits. These are services that still need to be utilized, no matter what.

What are trade schools?

The best way to think of trades is as skilled careers that have stable consumer demand for essential services and that can adapt to changing market needs, no matter what the economic environment.

Education for specialized craft trades may come from a (usually) two-year college, vocational school, apprenticeships, on-the-job training or specialized education programs such as bootcamps.

Types of trade school programs

Just a few of the diverse professions that are categorized as a trade may include:

• Automotive mechanics and technicians
• Aviation mechanics and technicians
• Cosmetologists, barbers and skin care technicians
• Electronic and computer technician and support roles
• Manufacturing
• Electricians
• HVAC and HVAC/R (heating, ventilation and air conditioning—and refrigeration) technicians
• Welders
• Construction management
• Heavy equipment operation
• Plumbers

Choosing the right online-friendly trade program

The good news is there are online programs available if you’re considering specializing in a trade. Your first step is to do due diligence around what area you’d like to pursue. Besides aptitude and interest, if you’re worried about career longevity and stability you might want to consider industry research and find out what sectors are anticipating growth over the next decade.

Step 1 — Analyze the trade you’re considering

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a reliable source for 10-year job growth projections, and they anticipate the following rate of growth for major trades specialty areas:

Trade	Job growth through 2034 (BLS)
Plumbers, Steamfitters and Pipefitters	4.5%
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	4.2%
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	4%
Electricians	9.5%
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics	8.1%
Construction Managers	8.7%
Hairdressers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists	5.6%
Computer User Support Specialists	-3.7%

Other things to consider when choosing your online program area of interest are:

• Research in-demand trade sectors: Don’t just consider the national forecast, consider your local area, climate, government and community needs.
• Analyze industry trends and forecasts: As mentioned above, the BLS and other government resources are great tools to help you decipher the long-term industry economic cycles.
• Evaluate personal interests and aptitudes: This is the most important; what do you want to do? What are your long-term goals? Do you want to work for yourself, manage a team or be managed? We have a personality quiz available that could help you hone down your selections.
• Consider long-term career prospects and growth potential: Is this a career you want to stay in? Are there other areas that also appear promising or exciting to you? This is the time to ask yourself that standard human resource interview question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Step 2 — Ask key questions of your online trades program (among others)

Once you’ve narrowed down your trade of interest, there are a few things to consider about your online education program. Remember some trades have different outcomes and education program criteria than a four-year university degree offers. Nevertheless, ask these questions to yourself and your potential school as you research and narrow down the online associate, diploma, bootcamp or certificate program you need:

• How much flexibility does my online program have? Is it solely online or will I need to go someplace local to do hands-on learning? Are there weekend and evening options?
• How much is tuition? Are there scholarships, grants, work-study or financial aid available for my online program?
• Is my program accredited? Who is the accrediting agency?
• If it’s not accredited, how do they assure students that the program is high-quality?
• What is the completion and graduation rate?
• How much debt on average do students have after they graduate or complete the program?
• Are there job placement or career counseling services available for students who have completed their online program?
• Will they help place me on an apprenticeship, or how will I receive hands-on skills?
• Can I take a trial run to see if online learning works for me?

Even if your school says no to some of these questions, it may not mean the program isn’t high-quality. Remember that trades are focused, skilled, hands-on jobs, so while you might complete your academic work online, you’ll want to follow up your laws, code, tools and rules learning with an apprenticeship, internship or other direct experience that places you in real-world scenarios.

Step 3 — Take the next step, browse trade programs

Recession-proof trade programs to consider

Let’s look at some of the most common trades in different industries:

Healthcare services

Industry growth and stability: According to the BLS, the healthcare industry in general has a projected growth rate of 13% through 2034, which is much faster than average for all other industries. Healthcare is projected to add around two million jobs during this time frame, and the industry number one for stability as far as jobs in the U.S. says the Washington Post in their 2023 article, The Five Best Industries for Job Security.

Popular healthcare programs:

Healthcare field	Education required	Job growth	Median annual salary
Nursing: LPN/LVN	Certificate and diploma programs may be found in colleges, community colleges and technical schools, and typically take about one year to complete. Some coursework may be done online. Must also be licensed to practice.	2.6%	$62,340
Medical assistant	Programs consist of a balance of administrative and clinical education. Certificate programs usually take a year, and are offered online, but there are programs that are as short as a few months. Another route to a career in medical assisting is earning an associate degree.	12.5%	$44,200
Pharmacy technician	You will need to earn a certificate, diploma or an associate degree and programs are available online. PT programs take around 4-5 months, or 2 semesters to earn.	6.4%	$43,460
Dental assistant	A certificate or diploma program streamlines your education so you can begin working as quickly as possible, usually within a year. An associate degree takes two years to complete, but combines basic dental assisting education with core college courses that may be good for career growth. Programs are available online.	6.4%	$47,300

Skilled trades

The top skilled trade programs that may be completed in under a year include:

Electrician trade programs

• Why electrician careers are stable: U.S. News and World Report ranks electrician at #3 in its 2024 25 Best Jobs Without a College Degree poll and #6 in its Highest Paying Jobs Without a College Degree rankings, and part of its high scores stems from the fact that electricians have a stable job growth (ranked 8 out of 10) and have low stress on the job along with a medium score for work-life balance.
• Job growth through 2034: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% employment growth for electricians through 2034. In that period, an estimated 50,200 jobs are anticipated to become available.

Education needed to enter the electrical field

A high school diploma or equivalent is required to become an electrician. Though many electricians join the field through apprenticeships, some electricians attend technical school as many technical and vocational schools offer programs related to circuitry, electrical safety practices and basic wiring and circuit information.

Graduates of these programs usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship. Those who are interested in starting their own business may choose to go on and earn an associate degree online in business and other more advanced electrical courses.

Plumber trade programs

• Why plumbing careers are stable: U.S. News and World Report ranks plumbers at #7 on their Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree poll for 2023, with high scores for work-life balance and good scores for job stability and future growth. Besides self-employment or plumbing company jobs, plumbers may be utilized by construction companies and in a variety of industries, making them versatile enough to weather downturns.
• Job growth through 2034: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.3% employment growth for electricians through 2034. In that period, an estimated 9,100 jobs are anticipated to become available.

Education needed to enter the plumbing field

Most plumbers learn their trade through an apprenticeship and certificate or diploma program. Apprentices typically receive 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as well as some technical instruction each year. Technical instruction includes safety, local plumbing codes and regulations, and blueprint reading.

Apprentices also study mathematics, applied physics and chemistry. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by unions, trade associations and businesses. Most apprentices enter a program directly, but some start out as helpers or complete pre-apprenticeship training programs in plumbing and other trades.

Information technology programs

Growth and stability of the IT industry: Besides healthcare, no other industry has such an expansive growth rate for almost every type of job under its umbrella as the IT and technology industry. The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow much faster than the average for all occupations.

This increase is expected to result in about 682,800 new jobs through 2034. Areas that may need an infusion of workers include network administration and cybersecurity—just two areas where the impact of data breaches continues to be underserved.

Education options for the IT field

This presents a huge opportunity for those who want to enter the IT or cyber security field. And if businesses are slow to respond to cybercrime and data theft, educational channels are not: colleges, vocational schools, trade schools and bootcamps are offering IT and computer programs for almost every area in the IT field, both online and in the classroom. Here are just some of the programs available:

• Computer programming, coding and cyber security bootcamps: Bootcamps were created to be completed in as little as a few weeks to a couple of months. Because of their shorter timeframe, bootcamps generally cost much less than a formal degree program. This is especially true for online bootcamps which don’t come with the expense of textbooks, housing, parking, tuition and more.
  
  Bootcamps are designed to give you the knowledge and skills to specifically prepare you for entry-level tech jobs. That’s the singular mission of bootcamps—everything you learn will be focused on exactly what you need to do the job. Bootcamps also tend to have fewer admission requirements than a degree program, though this may vary from bootcamp to bootcamp.
• Online cyber security programs: Because cyber security is an issue that is at the forefront of business, finance, retail, ecommerce and every industry in nearly every country in the world, the need for educated workers in the cyber security field is great. As a result of this need, there are online programs dedicated to cyber security basics, and more specific entry-level careers such as system administrator, network administrator and security specialist. Openings for workers are on the rise and there are online associate degree programs and other online certificate programs available. Why not consider a career field where the growth rate is, on average, an amazing 31.5% through 2034 according to the BLS.

As Forbes reported in May of 2023, “the fact remains that the victim count of data breaches continues to increase, reaching over 422 million in 2022, up 128 million from the previous year.” Their reasoning as to why breaches are up: “Businesses invest ineffectively for their security needs and can’t keep up with the advancements of cybercriminals.”

Construction and building trades programs

The construction industry often reflects the economy and may go through ups- and-downs along with it. Geography and location also play a big part in the industry’s prosperity and conversely, construction contributes greatly to the economic growth of an area or country. Within the huge umbrella of construction, there are many career areas, some specialized, such as electricians and masons, and some more general, such as carpenters, construction laborers and construction managers who may work on residential housing, apartment complexes, corporate building sites and engineering projects such as roads, highways and utility systems. Here are just a couple trades to consider:

Construction field	Education needed	Job growth	Median annual salary
Construction manager	An online two-year associate degree combined with work experience is typical for managers who supervise smaller projects.	8.7%	$106,980
Carpenter	Vocational and technical schools offer two-year associate degree programs in carpentry. The programs teach basics and specialties.	4.5%	$59,310
Masonry worker	Technical and vocational schools offer one- to-two-year programs in masonry but some may enter the field through a three- to-four-year apprenticeship.	3.2%	$60,800

Financing and support for trade programs

As you consider online trade programs, remember that trade education operates a little bit differently when it comes to finding financial aid to help pay for your schooling. The basic rules are simple: if you are enrolling in an online program that results in a degree and the program is accredited,you may be eligible for federal financial aid. Otherwise, your trade or vocational school’s accreditation status will be key in whether you can apply for federal aid or not.

Other criteria for financial aid may be knowing whether you’re participating in a certificate program that’s training you for a specific career. Again, you may not be eligible for federal student loans if your program doesn’t culminate in a degree or have accreditation.

Before you forego finding financial aid for your trade school program and start researching private loans, consider these resources to make sure you aren’t missing an opportunity:

• Visit the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator tool to find out if your program is accredited and eligible for federal financial aid.
• Talk to your trade school’s financial or student services office to learn what financial aid options they can help connect you with or recommend.
• Consider private loans tailored for career training, such as Sallie Mae Career Training Smart Option Loans. These may have lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans.

Strategies for success in a recession-proof vocation

Even if you choose a recession-proof trade as your future career, you’ll still want to stay on top of changes and advances in tools, codes, laws and regulations, and especially technologies that may impact what you do. As the world turns to more automated technologies such as AI, there are bound to be changes in how the most hands-on type of job gets done, and that’s why as you become proficient at your job it’s important to consider continuous learning and professional development.

If you have any aspirations to start your own business, or to work as a contractor, it will be essential to earn professional certifications or even a degree, to stay abreast of employment laws and accounting best practices.

Even working in a trade is an ongoing journey, and you’ll likely never stop learning or finding something new in each workday. The best way to stay prepared for anything is education and professional development. Embracing technological advancements may help you navigate changes in the economy and markets and help you stay one step ahead.

Another way to keep on track is to build your social network. Networking can spread word of mouth about the good job you do, and help you build your client base. It’s also a great way to find out what your competition is doing and to build brand reputation and reliability. Keeping your customers informed on any changes to your business, new products or services and even credentials you’ve added to your repertory can contribute to customer trust and loyalty.

Final say

Now that you’ve gained an understanding of some of the specific trades that are classified as “recession-proof” and why they are, isn’t it time to consider your next steps? We can offer more information about specific trade specialties to help you make an informed choice or direct you to the online education program that can get you where you’d like to be to begin your career journey.

There’s no better time than now to take advantage of flexible online education programs, certificates, diplomas and bootcamps that can help ensure that you’ll weather whatever economic climate happens. All you need to do to get started is click Find Programs to begin securing your future.

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