Recession-Proof Your Career: Get a Degree in Education

By Rachel Hanson, Contributing Writer

Updated: 1/7/2009

The job market nowadays is not exactly a pleasant one for most people, but there are several fields that are virtually unaffected by the downward economic trends in the U.S. A few good options are to get degrees in nursing, childcare, and, of course, education.

University degrees in education are a surefire bet of being guaranteed a job. The nation will always need educators, so having a university degree in education will never be a degree earned for nothing. What’s more, earning a masters degree in education will put you at the top of applicant lists as well as making your starting salary a higher one.

There have been shortages of medical professionals and teaching professionals in recent years, and many predict that the shortage of nurses and other medical staff is going to be filled sometime soon for two reasons. Firstly, because there was a shortage, many people have decided to pursue degrees, both from online universities and traditional ones, knowing that getting this particular college degree would guarantee them a job. Secondly, many have chosen nursing as the shortage area to fill instead of teaching simply because most medical positions pay better than education positions.

Filling the Gap

Not only are teacher shortages being filled less quickly than nursing ones, there are also many educators who are nearing the age of retirement. The present gap, met with a boom of retirees in the near future, will serve to make the gap even wider. These are excellent reasons to pursue a university degree in education.

A good way to ensure that you really have the best chances of job security after obtaining your college degree is to choose a subject area that is generally more in need. In the U.S. there are shortages of math and science teachers across the nation. Another field that generally has quite a few openings is in foreign language teaching; French, Spanish, and Japanese are good college degrees to pair with a masters degree in education. There are also rapidly growing demands for education specialists in English as a Second Language (ESL).

While many people first and foremost are interested in an early education degree in order to become a Kindergarten teacher, or are interested in teaching high school English, if these are your favorite areas of education, you should be aware of the competition that exists in your region for these jobs. Do a little research about what’s needed and what the anticipated needs are for the coming ten years in your region. Armed with this information, you are sure to pursue a university degree that will guarantee you a job.

Job Security

Many Americans are facing dire prospects in their careers because of the way the economy is moving. Those who work in Real Estate are suffering huge losses financially and professionally. This is something that you’ll never have to worry about if you choose to become a teacher.

Teaching and education are always evolving; teaching is stable, but not static. The face of education is always adapting to changing student needs and changing educational psychology, so if you’re wondering if teaching is a static career, rest assured that it’s not! Being an educator is full of surprises each and every day, and those who have the proper training and education are ready to meet those surprises and help their students every step of the way.

Becoming a teacher is a smart move in a dubious economy; it’s also one of the most meaningful careers around, making it an ideal choice for many.

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