Occupational Therapy

Medically minded people who don’t want to spend as much time in school could opt to become occupational therapy assistants, one of more than a half-dozen healthcare industry jobs on the BLS list of fastest growing careers. The median annual wage for OT assistants was $59,010 in May 2016, according to BLS figures. This pay can help compensate for the physical demands that can come with a career helping clients complete challenging tasks to cultivate and improve skills needed for daily living.

If you want to be an occupational therapy assistant, you need an associate degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program and a professional license in most states. Post-high school training and licensing requirements are typical of many of the best jobs for weathering a recession, said Bruce Hurwitz, president of the executive recruiting and career coaching firm Hurwitz Strategic Staffing.

“Recession-proof jobs are any jobs that are hands-on," he said. "Think of anything from an auto mechanic to a physician. These are jobs that provide services that, despite the economy, people still need.”