Survive recession in one of these secure careers p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

Hospitals, schools and the assembly line at an airplane factory look like pretty good places to be with a recession looming and unemployment rising.

The startling news that the economy lost 80,000 jobs in March 2008 and nearly a quarter-million over February through April 2008 is the starkest signal yet that the country has probably fallen into a recession, with things on the job front expected to get worse.

Analysts said as many as 2 million people could lose their jobs in the downturn.

In an environment of a sluggish economy and rising unemployment, analysts said, there will be some safe harbors where job demand will keep growing. First and foremost will be health care, where the demographics of an aging population mean the demand for medical care will keep rising.

Also a bright spot in a generally bleak jobs picture will be education, again driven by the demographics of a rising population of school-age children and students attending colleges, community colleges and trade schools.

Outside of those areas, the falling value of the dollar against many foreign currencies is helping to power an export boom, which is benefiting farmers and some segments of manufacturing, particularly airplane makers and factories producing various types of heavy machinery - areas in which the United States enjoys a competitive edge.

In general, hiring is expected to hold up in areas where consumers will keep spending money regardless of the health of the economy, such as at grocery stores, gasoline stations and repair shops.

Government employment generally holds up during a recession because of increased demand for services, although some states are warning of cutbacks due to falling tax revenues. Federal, state and local governments added 18,000 jobs in March, according to a recent jobs report.

(Originally published May 5, 2008)