Students search for ‘recession-proof’ careers

Many are worried about job security and how to ensure they follow a “recession-proof” career.

Central Piedmont Community College is preparing people for their careers, including student Lucia Scire, who wants to work with children in education.

“So I went to school,” she said. “And I think just making any child’s life a little bit easier is going to be the biggest, rewarding job that I think anyone could ask for.”

Scire is majoring in a program for occupational therapy assistants, which is a deviation after graduating with a four-year degree in psychology.

“I graduated and thought, ‘What am I going to do because a bachelor’s degree in psychology -- there are not a ton of options,’” Scire said.

Scire said she wants job security as the fear of a recession looms and that there are more routes when working in occupational therapy, she said.

Occupational therapy assistant professor Julie Dow said advancements in AI and technology don’t have as much of an impact in the field.

Occupational therapy assistants rank No. 1 in best health care support jobs, according to U.S. News and World Report.

“They often times land jobs even before they graduated,” Dow said. “And then once they graduated, those companies that they did their fieldwork with, just slot them into that.”

Other career paths, which are considered recession-proof, are offered at CPCC, which include advanced manufacturing, engineering, HVAC repair, and more.

Some don’t require a four-year degree.

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