by: Marie Kay

These days, the job market does not look very promising. The media is flooded with news stories of lay-offs, downsizing and outsourcing. The good news is that there are certain careers that are resilient to the negative effects of a recession. Whether you are looking to further your education, make a career change or enhance your marketability, it is important to understand which professions offer the most stability in tough economic times. Below is a list of the top five recession-proof career fields.

Health care:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of the nation's fastest growing careers are in the health care industry. As long as people continue to get sick or injured, there will be a high demand for qualified health care workers. There are countless career options within this field including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and many others.

Education:

The demand for qualified educators is on the rise. Even during a recession, there is a need for teachers, professors, aides, principals and administrators. A career in education can also allow you the opportunity to have an impact on the nation's economic future through teaching children or helping adults acquire job skills.

Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice:

Crime does not stop during a recession. In fact, some major media outlets have already begun speculating that an economic crisis will inevitably lead to