Healthcare jobs are practically recession-proof, says Indeed—here's how to get in and make over $100K
Healthcare may be job seekers' best bet at a stable six-figure salary in the current climate. While Indeed hails the field as 'recession-resistant,' nurses agree that they've enjoyed plentiful job options, even during the 2008 recession. Here's how job seekers can get their feet in the door.
Dark clouds are storming over America's markets—threatening to drastically raise prices and eliminate jobs. Luckily, one industry has typically buoyed during recessionary times.
'Healthcare is a classic recession-resistant industry because medical care is always in demand,' Priya Rathod, career expert at Indeed, tells Fortune. And it may be the safest way to hold down a job with a potential six-figure starting salary right now.
New data from the careers platform shows that home health, doctor, and nursing job postings have hit a combined 162% growth since pre-pandemic.
Physician and surgeon jobs represent the greatest boost in the field, as open roles have skyrocketed 90% since pre-pandemic years. Meanwhile, other industries are suffering; arts and entertainment job postings have especially plummeted since 2022, falling 10% overall from pre-COVID-19 levels.
People will always need their yearly check-ups, routine medical care, and emergency hospital on speed dial—no matter how rough the economy is.
'During the 2007–2009 Great Recession, healthcare employment continued to grow even as overall U.S. payrolls shrank,' Rathod says, and that this is 'A sign that the sector is 'resistant to, if not immune from' traditional economic downturns, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.'
America also has a rapidly aging population, driving the need for services like home health, personal care, surgeon, and physician jobs. Healthcare employment is expected to swell by roughly 1.9 million job openings annually over the next decade, according to BLS data.
Danielle LeVeck, a nurse of over 15 years, tells Fortune she has witnessed her profession's growth in action. She switched career tracks from PR to nursing in 2007, hoping for steady employment. She's never worried about being unemployed since, and is comforted by the routine and safety of her career.
'I've never worried, since becoming a nurse, that I wouldn't have a job. That sense of security is very important to me,' LeVeck says. 'Working with the same people every day, going to work and helping people, it's good for me.'
There's another sticky situation the healthcare industry naturally skirts: the impact of AI on jobs. Workers have been wringing their hands over the reality that advanced tech is coming for their roles. But medical staffers don't have to lose sleep; healthcare is one of the key industries expected to grow amid the U.S.'s AI-driven business landscape disruption, according to a 2024 report from McKinsey. AI still can't perform a majority of tasks that healthcare workers can—like sterilizing surgical equipment, or administering at-home aid.
These recession and AI-proof jobs aren't just the golden ticket to a steady career—but a six-figure salary, if you play your cards right.
'You have to have experience, you have to be living in the right place, and working at the right place. The pay discrepancy for nurses is wide,' LeVeck says.
When she started as a bedside nurse in 2011, her initial wages were $45,000 a year, and her final role in that niche paid $67,000 annually. LeVeck says it is possible to earn over $100,000 as a bedside nurse, but that her later job as a nurse practitioner is more apt to make six figures as a starting salary. The real money lies in private hospitals and care centers as opposed to large, research-based hospitals—there's typically a lighter workload, but higher competition for these jobs that nobody wants to leave.
Nursing is just one of the several recession-proof jobs with the chance to earn six figures. Physicians can earn over $200,000 annually, and doctors like general practitioners rake in $140,000 yearly. LeVeck says making the right connections can be the make-or-break for healthcare professionals to secure high-paying roles—networking is how she's landed every job in her career.
Rathod echoes the importance of connection building. She also recommends job-seekers optimize their resumes to highlight healthcare-relevant skills and gain credentials like a certified nursing assistant (CNA) license or an IT security certificate. But at a baseline level, simply getting your foot in the door is a good first step.
'Don't hesitate to start in an adjacent or entry-level role such as an administrative job at a hospital,' Rathod says. 'Demonstrating initiative and flexibility can help you stand out, even in crowded applicant pools.'
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
With $771 million budget gap for transit looming, suburban officials and activists still waiting on reform
As May 31 this year came and went and Illinois lawmakers passed a roughly $55 billion state spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, a $771 million budget shortfall that Chicago area transit agencies have warned will result in major service cuts on the CTA, Metra and Pace was left unsolved. But, as regional transit agencies sound the alarm and lawmakers decide whether they'll return to Springfield over the summer to pass transit legislation that will allow them to sidestep the fiscal cliff, some suburban elected officials and transit activists are continuing their calls for more suburban influence in regional transit decisions and more accessible and robust public transportation in areas with far fewer bus routes and train stations than the city of Chicago. Here's what's happened, what Kane County officials and some area transit activists are hoping for and where things stand now. For over a year, transit agencies have been warning of a looming budget shortfall as COVID-19 pandemic money starts to run out. The Regional Transportation Authority has outlined possible cuts and service reductions that could hit the area's three transit agencies — the CTA, Metra and Pace Suburban Bus — and the RTA, the body that oversees them, as early as next year if the $771 million gap in funding is not filled, according to past reporting. Failure to fill the budget hole could result in cuts to some of the CTA's train lines, and the elimination of as many as 74 of its 127 bus routes, according to the RTA. Metra train frequency could be reduced and Pace could reduce the frequency of buses and cut weekend service entirely. Paratransit, too, could see service reductions on weekends. Meanwhile, tackling the budget shortfall has brought with it discussion in Springfield about how transit is overseen and how to fund it, with state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, for example, championing legislation that would consolidate the region's transit agencies. The transit agencies pushed back on the original plan's lack of a funding solution, while suburban groups and officials argued consolidation would limit the suburbs' input on transit matters. Supporters backed it on the grounds that it could save money and help coordinate services better. In late May, just days before the spring legislative session was set to adjourn, Illinois lawmakers filed a bill in the House that would not consolidate the region's transit agencies, but would rename the RTA the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, establish a new law enforcement task force, change the model of board governance overseeing the agencies and charge the new board with setting a single payment system and coordinating transit schedules across the region, according to past reporting. A transit bill introduced in the Senate the same day offered some funding proposals to address the gap: an up to 50-cent toll increase, a 10% tax on ride-sharing services and a real estate transfer tax. It also included limitations on the collar counties' ability to use the RTA sales tax money they receive for certain public safety and transportation costs. A Senate proposal filed on May 31 suggested a $1.50 retail delivery fee to generate additional revenue. Soon after, representatives from the collar counties criticized the proposals, according to past reporting, pointing to a loss of tax revenue for suburban counties, less oversight power for the suburbs and the impact of a toll increase on suburban commuters. Ultimately, legislators left Springfield without passing legislation that would fill the transit budget gap, per past reporting, with House Democrats saying they wanted to sort out the board oversight issue before coming to an agreement on a funding proposal. In Kane County, the failure to pass the Senate funding proposal was met with some optimism from local officials seeking greater suburban influence over the transit agencies. At a county board meeting on June 4, Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog reiterated interest in greater oversight for the collar counties on the region's transit agencies. 'That was our big fight, and we were able to, altogether, with our senators … postpone this for another day, and a much more thoughtful, I hope, less rushed conversation,' Pierog said. According to the bill introduced in the House, the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority governance structure would have included five representatives from the city of Chicago appointed by the mayor, five representatives appointed by the governor, five by the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and five representatives from the collar counties — one appointed by each of the chairs of the county boards in Kane, Lake, McHenry, DuPage and Will. The current RTA governance model includes 16 directors, five of which come from the collar counties, along with a chairman who needs at least two votes from the collar county representatives, according to RTA spokesperson Tina Fassett Smith. Just before the state's spending plan was passed, elected officials from Kane County and its local municipalities gathered for a press conference to raise their concerns about the fiscal cliff and revenue suggestions. Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said the county is seeking equal representation in transit matters. 'We're not the end of the (Metra) line,' Kaptain said at the news conference. 'We're the beginning of the (Metra) line.' Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns referred to the funding mechanism proposed by state legislators as 'statutory pickpocketing.' And Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser and Sheriff Ron Hain noted the possible impact of losing RTA sales tax revenue, which the county currently uses to fund some public safety costs. Currently, the RTA collects a 0.75% sales tax in the collar counties, including Kane, of which one-third is distributed back to each county and can be used for transportation and public safety, said Fassett Smith. The rest of the money generated goes to the RTA, and is allocated to the service boards, she noted. According to data from the RTA and numbers provided by Kane County Finance Director Kathleen Hopkinson, Kane County received just over $26 million in RTA sales tax funding for fiscal year 2024. Of that, almost $20 million went toward transportation funding, while the rest went to public safety and judicial safety funds, according to the figures from Hopkinson. Pierog said the county's main concerns are the governance model overhaul and the possible loss of RTA sales tax money. The county board did not take a position on the possible revenue proposals, like the toll increase and package delivery fee, she said. On the legislative side, too, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, a Democrat who represents portions of Aurora, North Aurora and Batavia, said reforming the governance structure is a key House priority before getting to questions of revenue, and that holding off on voting on the transit legislation gives them more time to talk with their constituents about the proposals. Thew Elliot, 64, said he's never held a driver's license. Having lived in Aurora the past seven years, he said he's able to walk to Wesley United Methodist Church, where he works as director of liturgy and music. But navigating the area for his regular errands without a car is difficult, he said, so much so that he often travels to Chicago to do them. 'I go to a neighborhood where I can go to a Michaels, go to a (Jewel-Osco), go to a drug store, get something to eat, all on foot,' he said. 'That's impossible for me to do in Aurora. It would take me seven hours. … It's just the density and what you can do on foot once you're there (in Chicago) is much better.' Elliot is involved with the activist community in Aurora, and has previously coordinated a warming center at the church he works at. He noted his concerns that cuts to transit services might more significantly affect non-rush hour transit services, often used by those working nontraditional jobs, including homeless individuals. He has also attended a transit reform listening session hosted by political advocacy group The People's Lobby, which, when it came to addressing the transit situation in the Chicago area, supported consolidation of the region's transit organizations and funding proposals meant to prevent cuts and expand transit access. The People's Lobby started holding listening sessions about transit in Chicago, said its director of membership and advocacy Miguel Molina-Ventura, and then began hosting events in the suburbs. Molly Merchant, 22, of Wheaton got involved with The People's Lobby through local campaign work, and has worked for the organization on facilitating turnout for environmental justice and public transit-related events, an issue she has a personal stake in. Merchant and her roommate bought a car last year, she said, but it was wrecked in an accident just a few months later. She's saving up again for a new one, but said getting around is a lot more difficult for the time being. 'I had to rely on, like, rides from friends just to get to classes, and I had to ask my aunts to drive me to the grocery store because I didn't have a car anymore and I couldn't afford Ubers,' Merchant said. Groups like The People's Lobby say they want an expansion of the public transit system currently offered in the suburbs. But doing so would be expensive, Pierog noted, since it would be a newer system than Chicago and would therefore require more infrastructure to be built. And it would be a learning curve for Kane County residents, she said, to get accustomed to taking mass transit rather than using a car to get around. In addition to its Metra stations, Kane County currently has fixed bus route service provided by Pace, as well as on-demand service in some areas, the Pace Vanpool ridesharing service and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated paratransit, per the agency's website. But a lack of robust public transit further reinforces access issues, Rep. Hernandez said, when individuals in the area don't use the transit available. 'Instead of trying to find other ways to reach people (when there's a route with low ridership), I feel like they just do the quick way of, 'Let me just remove this route out of the picture,' unfortunately, leaving people without that transportation and leaving people to rely more on their cars. … I'm hoping that with (new transit legislation), it could help fix that, and it could make people go back to public transportation.' Funding for future projects also remains uncertain. For example, a Metra station in Oswego has been a priority for the community for nearly three decades, according to Village Administrator Dan Di Santo. Most recently, he said, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, directed some funds toward an environmental assessment for a possible BNSF line extension into Kendall County. The community is also considering whether the Metra train could run on the Illinois Railway line instead, which wouldn't require laying additional tracks. The BNSF Metra commuter line — which runs between Chicago's Union Station and Aurora — sees the highest ridership of all the area Metra lines. According to data from the RTA, the BNSF line provided over 650,000 rides in April 2025. Comparatively, the Union Pacific West Line, which goes into Geneva with a last stop in Elburn, saw 345,794 rides in April. But, ridership is still down significantly since before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the BNSF line, for example, typically gave over 1 million rides in any given month. Kendall County is not deemed a collar county, meaning it doesn't currently have a say in the transit agencies' decisions. But Di Santo said, despite the current state budget concerns, his community is prepared to ride out the fiscal uncertainty when it comes to transit. 'We're in it for the long game,' Di Santo said. 'When we did our last study, it was during COVID. … They said, 'Is there even going to be commuter rail service?' … And now it's a fiscal cliff.' Both Metra and Pace have stated they'll be operating as though the budget gap will not be filled — for now at least. Per a memo from the RTA in March, budget scenarios, including service reductions and fare increases, are to be developed by the service boards — the CTA, Metra and Pace — from July through September. Public notice of cuts to existing service would be announced between September and October, and initial layoff notices could also begin during that time frame. The service boards are to present their budgets to the RTA board in November for adoption of a 2026 regional transit operating budget and 2026-2030 capital program in December. Per the RTA's proposed timeline, schedule changes and cuts could begin in 2026. Metra spokesperson Michael Gillis said it can only use known sources of revenue as it begins the 2026 budget process, but is 'hopeful' that Springfield will identify new funding solutions. He said Metra has not identified what exactly service reductions would look like, and said the agency could not yet provide details on how Kane County might be impacted. Pace, too, is beginning its budget process 'based on the funding currently available,' according to spokesperson Maggie Daly Skogsbakken, 'with hope and determination that additional support will be secured later this year.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Sellers are flooding the home market while buyers sit on their hands in these US cities — creating a historic imbalance
After years of sellers calling the shots, some of the hottest pandemic-era housing markets are now grappling with a surplus of listings — and not enough willing buyers. According to real estate brokerage Redfin, April saw nearly half a million more homes listed than buyers in the market, the largest gap since at least 2013. But this supply surge hasn't translated into a wave of closings. Instead, home sales have stalled in many areas, particularly across the Southeast and Southwest, where inventory has ballooned past pre-pandemic norms. Advertisement 6 The US housing market is experiencing a historic imbalance, with nearly 500,000 more sellers than buyers in April — the largest gap since at least 2013, according to Redfin. Cavan – In Miami, for example, there were almost three times as many sellers as buyers in April, Redfin data show. Jeff Lichtenstein, president of Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, told the Wall Street Journal sellers are increasingly slashing asking prices to entice cautious buyers. Advertisement 'There will be more price reductions that are going on, and more willingness to sell at a lower number, especially in the next couple months,' he said. 'We've definitely seen people who have taken losses.' 6 While the inventory of homes for sale is finally rising, many buyers remain on the sidelines due to high prices, elevated mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. Andy Dean – These conditions mark a sharp reversal for the Sunbelt, which saw home values soar and bidding wars erupt during the COVID years. Now, many of those same metros — Atlanta, Austin, Phoenix and Tampa among them — are seeing listings linger, as affordability challenges, higher mortgage rates and buyer wariness take hold. Advertisement Nationally, home prices are still rising, but that growth is cooling. US prices climbed 1.4% in May from a year earlier, according to Intercontinental Exchange, down from 2% annual growth in April. Twenty-four of the 100 largest metro areas posted year-over-year price declines in May, with the bulk of those concentrated in the Sunbelt. 6 Home prices have surged over 50% in five years, and rates above 6.5% continue to dampen demand. Gian – 'There's not even usually a home for sale in our neighborhood, and I think there's three or four right now,' Dirk Lovelace, who listed his Tryon, NC, house in April, told the Journal. Advertisement After relocating to South Carolina, he cut the asking price but still hasn't received an offer. 'The current sentiment is, the market's probably going to go down further, so people are just waiting,' he said. Buyers appear to be in no rush. Home prices have surged more than 50% nationwide over the past five years, and mortgage rates remain elevated above 6.5%. Though active listings in May reached their highest point since 2019, they are still about 14% below typical pre-pandemic levels, according to Still, the gap between buyers and sellers is widening, in part because many homeowners are listing out of necessity rather than opportunity. 6 Sellers, facing life changes or rising costs, are listing properties and increasingly cutting prices or offering concessions to attract hesitant buyers. Ryan Tishken – Some are relocating for jobs, while others are exiting investment properties as costs rise or in anticipation of a price dip. 'It doesn't feel like buyer demand is going to come back that much,' Chen Zhao, Redfin's head of economic research added. 'Prices are just too high.' In markets like Denver, longtime agent Elle Pappas told The Journal the tone of conversations with buyers has shifted dramatically from the frenetic pace of recent years. Advertisement 'The immediate conversation, even upon the first appointment I have with them, is, 'How much of a discount do you think I can get? How many concessions can I get?'' 6 Despite the increase in supply — now at its highest since 2019 — existing-home sales in April hit their slowest pace for that month since 2009. seanlockephotography – Carley and Garrett Kapelski, who had previously paused their home search due to competition in the Kansas City suburbs, said they've noticed a shift this spring. 'We feel a lot less stressed this time,' Garrett Kapelski said. 'If we wait another 30, 60 days, maybe you'll see these people that thought they would be able to sell their houses quickly, and maybe already bought another home, start being willing to wiggle a little bit.' Advertisement Much of the current slowdown can be traced to the uneven recovery in housing supply following the 2006 to 2009 crash, coupled with the lock-in effect of low pandemic-era mortgage rates. 6 Buyers now hold more negotiating power, especially in Sunbelt markets like Miami, where listings far outnumber house hunters. In contrast, parts of the Northeast and Midwest remain competitive. Gian – But that trend may be easing. New-home construction has picked up since the pandemic, and more homeowners are beginning to list — some simply because they can't wait any longer, whether that is due to job transfers, having children or otherwise, Pappas explained.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
I shopped at Costco to see if the store has raised prices due to tariffs. Here are the biggest changes I noticed.
Costco is buying more US-made items and rerouting inventory to avoid raising prices due to tariffs. I shopped at Costco in June and compared prices to when the tariffs were announced in April. A few items were more expensive, but most cost the same, and some had even gotten cheaper. While some retailers are raising prices due to President Donald Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs on over 180 countries, Costco is taking a different approach. On Costco 's third-quarter earnings call on May 29, CEO Ron Vachris said the company is buying more items produced in the US and rerouting inventory bound for US stores to locations in other countries to avoid paying tariffs and raising prices. "We're watching pricing daily, and if not hourly, on every key commodity," Vachris said. This strategy was evident on my latest shopping trip. When the tariffs were announced in April, I tracked the origins of every item I purchased at Costco to see how much of my usual grocery list could be affected. Out of the 23 items I bought in April, at least 12 were imported or contained imported ingredients. I took the same grocery list to Costco in June and tracked all of the price changes I saw. While a few items from my April grocery list had gotten more expensive, most of the prices had stayed the same, and some had even decreased. Some of the changes I tracked may be due to tariffs, but they could also be regular fluctuations caused by other factors such as inflation or supply and demand. A representative for Costco declined to comment. While some of Trump's tariffs took effect immediately in April, others have been paused until July. Even as some other stores have announced increased prices due to tariffs, the measures have yet to spike prices across the board. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the consumer price index, a measure of the average change in prices paid by urban consumers over time, increased by 0.1% in May, and the food index rose by 0.3%. Here are all of the price differences I noticed at Costco. As per usual, a long line stretched outside Manhattan's sole Costco store when I arrived just before its 10 a.m. opening. Beginning June 30, Costco's executive members will be able to shop an hour earlier than Gold Star members. I hope this exclusive access will mean shorter lines and a less crowded shopping experience first thing in the morning. I was surprised that most of the produce I bought cost the same as it did on my last grocery trip, even though much of it was imported. Trump announced 25% tariffs on both Mexico and Canada in February, months before the "Liberation Day" establishment of "reciprocal" tariffs on other countries in April. Agricultural products were not subject to the new tariffs per the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but the US will begin taxing Mexican tomatoes with a 21% duty beginning July 14, the Associated Press reported. Despite being a product of Mexico with a Canadian distributor, a two-pound tomato medley from Sunset stayed the same price at $7.99. Other products of Mexico and Canada on my shopping list, such as raspberries, cucumbers, and mashed avocado packets, also cost the same as they did in April. I'd anticipated higher prices on produce at Costco as the CEOs of companies like Walmart and Target warned consumers of potential grocery price hikes due to tariffs. The one exception was grapes, which were a product of the US and cost 50 cents more than the imported grapes I bought in April. Last time I shopped at Costco in April, I bought 3 pounds of purple grapes from Chile for $7.49. On this visit in June, Costco stocked a different brand of red grapes grown in the US that cost $7.99 for a 3-pound package. In the third-quarter earnings call, Vachris said the company planned to buy more domestically made products as alternatives to increasingly expensive imported items. With a domestic supplier, the grapes still slightly increased in price, which could be due to different production and labor costs at the new supplier. Kirkland's organic roasted seaweed, sourced from South Korea, cost a dollar more than it did in April — a 9% price increase from $10.99 to $11.99. The price of Kind bars, which are made in the US, had decreased by about 11.5% since my last trip. The box of 22 bars said that they were made in the US "with domestic and imported ingredients." The price of the Kind bars decreased from $19.99 in April to $17.69 in June. The price of Costco's Kirkland-brand lemonade went up 10 cents, from $6.29 in April to $6.39 in June for two 3-quart bottles. Costco's US branch distributes the lemonade, but the label doesn't say where it was produced or where its ingredients were sourced. If the lemons used are not grown in the US, it's possible that they've become more expensive to import due to tariffs. India, Mexico, and China are the top three lemon producers in the world, The Takeout reported, and were all hit with steep tariffs: 26% on India, 25% on Mexico, and 10% on China. Costco didn't respond to a request for comment. Other juices on my shopping list, such as gallon-sized bottles of passion orange guava juice, cost the same as they did in April at $5.99 each. Some price changes were due to limited-time sales, like a $3 discount on Nature's Path organic granola. Nature's Path organic granola was on sale for $5.99 during my June shopping trip. I'd previously paid $8.99 in April. The pumpkin seed and flax granola comes in 35.5-ounce bags. Nature's Path's website says that it "does not currently purchase any products internationally that would require 'product of…' labeling." Egg prices at Costco decreased dramatically. In February, I bought a carton of 24 cage-free large eggs at Costco for $8.49. I was lucky to even get one — the supply ran out just minutes after the store opened due to shortages caused by avian flu. Things have improved steadily since then as the bird flu outbreak has become better contained. When I shopped at Costco in April, a carton of 24 cage-free large eggs cost $7.69. In June, the price lowered to $5.79, with an overall decrease of around 32% since February. Overall, prices at Costco hadn't changed much. Their strategy appears to be working. Out of the 23 items on my grocery list I compared from April, only three became more expensive, and three decreased in price. On the third-quarter earnings call, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip said that keeping prices low for members pays off despite squeezed profit margins. When prices eventually fall, he said, it allows the company to "feel the margin relief faster while also being able to lower prices more quickly than our competitors." I'm grateful Costco has largely kept its prices the same, choosing to lower profit margins instead of passing higher costs on to consumers.
