13 Recession-Proof Jobs for 2023

The Most Recession-Proof Jobs

You’ve heard the news.

Reports of corporate layoffs, inflation, interest rate hikes, and fears of an upcoming recession dominate the headlines. You might feel nervous about your job security due to all the gloom and doom.

According to a recent Payscale report, certain jobs are much less likely to be affected by an economic crisis. Payscale analyzed the salary profiles of 1.1 million US workers. They compiled the data into a list of the most recession-proof jobs based on salary growth.

The report concludes that people who work in food service, banking, advertising, and emergency response are among the least likely to lose their jobs because of a recession. Blue-collar jobs like dock worker, installation technician, and machine operator also made the list.

“Despite the possibility of an economic downturn, the labor market remains tight, forcing employers to pay top dollar to attract and retain talent for the most sought-after roles,” said Lexi Clarke, VP of People at Payscale.

The report also notes that their top recession-proof positions saw significant wage increases. The pay for the top 13 roles increased between 15 and 30 percent.

13 Recession-Proof Jobs for the New Year

Here are the most recession-proof jobs for 2023, according to the survey:

1. Waitstaff

Median pay: $19,000 per year
Salary growth: 30%

2. Private Banker

Median pay: $93,000
Salary growth: 25%

3. Media Director

Median pay: $108,000
Salary growth: 23%

4. Police, Fire, or Ambulance Dispatcher

Median pay: $44,500
Salary growth: 19%

5. Sales Consultant

Median pay: $56,800
Salary growth: 18%

6. Microbiologist

Median pay: $59,900
Salary growth: 16%

7. Marketing and Business Development Director

Median pay: $119,000
Salary growth: 16%

8. Dock Worker

Median pay: $41,100
Salary growth: 15%

9. EKG Technician

Median pay: $40,400
Salary growth: 15%

10. Installation Technician

Median pay: $46,800
Salary growth: 15%

11. Assembly Line Machine Operator

Median pay: $37,200
Salary growth: 15%

12. Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

Median pay: $47,300
Salary growth: 15%

13. Tanker Truck Driver

Median pay: $58,100
Salary growth: 15%

Salary Growth

In looking at this list, you can see that employers across several industries have to pay more to attract and retain talent.

For example, the restaurant business was hit hard recently due to lockdowns and other pandemic-related restrictions. Many food service workers found work in other industries after having their hours reduced or being let go. Restaurants have had difficulty rebuilding their staff without increasing wages.

Pay has risen 6.4% compared to a year ago, according to November data from the Atlanta Fed wage growth tracker, which looks at the median percentage change in hourly wages over 12 months.

Salaries could stabilize if a recession hits, though. Workers could opt to stay in their current positions, leading employers to be less aggressive with pay and incentives.

Jobs People are Most Likely to Quit in 2023

The report also looked at jobs people are most likely to leave. Many occupations on the list come with high stress, low pay, or low job satisfaction.

With the “Great Resignation,” “quiet quitting,” and “act your wage” becoming reality as more workers seek work-life balance and better terms, employers could see a significant spike in turnover for the following jobs:

1. Senior Customer Service Representative
2. Software Development Manager
3. Creative Director
4. Manufacturing Production Manager
5. Public Relations Specialist
6. Medical Coding Specialist
7. Human Resources Assistant
8. Customer Success Manager
9. Controls Engineer
10. Human Resources Specialist

It’s interesting to note that most positions on the list are office jobs. These jobs may have been done remotely during the height of the pandemic.

Many companies have returned to work. Some have abandoned remote work entirely, while others switched to a hybrid model with some time in the office mandatory.

“Workplace flexibility has been shown to improve employee satisfaction, so rescinding this perk can be a major factor in employees’ decisions to resign,” Clarke said in the news release.

Having to go into the office after becoming accustomed to working from home full-time may spur workers to look for a new job with a more flexible arrangement.

Your Career Plan for This Year?

What are your career plans for 2023? If your job is not so recession-proof, will you look for another opportunity, start a side gig or a second job, or keep your fingers crossed? If you’re on solid footing, will you ask for a raise, test the job market, or maintain the status quo?

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