Health care, information technology jobs dominate the list
The top 10 most-secure occupations
As the world’s economy struggles through a difficult cycle, today’s job seekers are looking for a little stability.
Whether they’re students deciding on a major or long-term workers who have been pushed back into the job market by company downsizing, fewer Western New Yorkers appear interested in taking a gamble with their livelihood and are looking for more of a sure shot.
“People have been observant of the downturns that happen in certain industries,” said Claire Darstein, career center director at Trocaire College. “They want to choose a career that will let them provide for their families without seeing layoffs or downsizing.”
That’s why Laurence Shatkin and the editors at Jist Books recently sifted through nearly 1,000 occupations and came up with a list of the most secure occupations in the book “150 Best Recession Proof Jobs,” due out this fall.
“There are certain jobs that serve basic needs and those needs aren’t going to change,” Shatkin said in an interview. “That makes them less sensitive to changes in the economy.”
Largely, those needs center around health care and information technology. Everyone gets sick, with or without the economy’s permission. In the same way, every company — whether it’s private, public or municipal — needs computers to get the job done.
While Shatkin admits he doesn’t “have a crystal ball,” here are the overall top 10 jobs he found to be the highest paying, fastest growing, most abundantly available positions least affected by a harsh economic climate:
1 Computer systems analysts Local median salary: $66,614
National average: $69,760
Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information science or management information systems.
Competitive edge: Advanced degrees in computer science and engineering or master’s degree in business administration focused in information technology.
What they do: Come up with systems that will best serve workers, the work they do and the information they use.
Positions in amusement and recreation, such as at casinos, have the most growth potential, though offshoring has slowed growth across many other industries. The potential for earnings growth is very high.
2 Network systems and data communications analysts
Local median salary: $62,635 National average: $64,600
Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, information science or management information systems.
Competitive edge: Related work experience, advanced degrees in computer science and engineering, MBA with information systems focus.
What they do: Make life easier for companies through technology such as intranet, e-mail and voice mail.
Demand for skilled analysts is huge and growing, especially in the financial, social assistance and Internet publishing sectors.
“The collaborative nature of the work makes offshoring unlikely,” Shatkin said.
3 Network and computer systems administrators
Local median salary: $66,255 National average: $62,130
Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, information science or management information systems.
Competitive edge: Advanced degrees in these areas, especially with work experience. MBAs with a focus in information systems.
What they do: Take care of a company’s networks, such as Internet.
Though outsourcing is slowing some growth, the lack of qualified candidates has employers scrambling for talent. Growth is strongest in the amusement, recreation and gambling, social assistance and financial sectors.
4 Registered nurses Local median salary: $60,544 plus sign-on bonuses up to $10,000
National average: $57,280 Education: Associate’s degree. Competitive edge: Bachelor’s or
master’s degree; clinical nurse specialists, practitioners, midwives, anesthetists; willingness to work in under-
served rural and inner-city locales. What they do: Take care of patient health.
Registered nurses are emerging as more cost-efficient health care providers, and patients have become much more willing to accept their care in place of a physician’s.
5 Teachers, postsecondary Local median salary: $44,897
National average: $57,770 Education: Doctoral or field-related professional degree.
Competitive edge: Scholarly publications, visible success in their field.
What they do: Teach courses, conduct research, advise students.
“Adult education actually increases during hard times, because people find themselves out of work and are looking to improve their skills,” Shatkin said.
Keep in mind that salary can vary widely from department to department, usually depending on how employable an instructor is likely to be outside the university. For example, a music professor can make less than half that of a professor of law or medicine.
6 Physical therapists Local median salary: $68,580
National average: $66,200 Education: Master’s degree. Competitive edge: Acute hospital, rehabilitation and orthopedic settings; specialized knowledge of a certain treatment type.
What they do: Rehabilitate injured or diseased patients.
The booming population of elderly people are creating a high demand for therapeutic services, with the social assistance and ambulatory care fields growing fastest.
7 Physicians and surgeons Local median salary: $286,148
National baseline average: $145,600 Education: Professional degree.
There is particularly great demand for general practitioners, internists, obstetrician/gynecologists and those willing to work in rural or low-income locales.
“People are always going to get sick, so they’re always going to need health care,” Shatkin said.
8 Dental hygienists Local median salary: $64,106
National average: $62,800 Education: Associate’s degree.
What they do: Clean and examine teeth, take X-rays.
Older dentists, who traditionally took on more of the preventative care aspects of dentistry, are retiring and being replaced by those who are more likely to assign such care to one or more hygienists.
9 Pharmacists
Local median salary: $103,629 National average: $94,520 Education: Professional degree. What they do: Formulate and dole out prescribed medications.
Insurance companies are shifting some patient education and vaccination duties to pharmacists to cut costs, calling for more hires. An increase in prescription drug use is fueling growth, especially in community, hospital and mail-order pharmacies, and — as baby boomers age — assisted living facilities.
10 Medical and health services managers Local median salary: $71,646 to $81,074
National average: $73,340
Education: Related work experience, plus a master’s degree.
Competitive edge: Strong business skills, health care-related work experience. What they do: Also known as health care executives, they make sure health care is delivered properly.
Hospitals employ the most managers, but practitioners’ offices and home health-care agencies will see the biggest growth.
