7 Stable Jobs

by Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
As fashion fads come and go each decade, so do employment trends. Back in the late 1990s and very early 2000s, it seemed that all things Internet would be around forever. Employment for dot.com jobs seemed to be an upward trajectory with no limit. Then 2001 came and things changed. Internet-related jobs weren't the first positions to take a hit, and they won't be the last. But through all of these ups and downs -- and it's fair to say that this economy is down -- some jobs fare better than others. The idea of a stable job in this economy might sound impossible to you, but it's not. Looking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment trends, certain industries are showing job growth or remaining flat, even during these tough times. We looked at these industries and then drilled down to see what positions have been poised for job growth over recent years. Of course, geography plays a huge role in how available some of these jobs are, so your city might have taken a bigger hit in some industries than other places have. Still, this is a good place to start if you're looking for some jobs that are still gaining momentum. Here are some of today's stable jobs and their average annual salary:

Personal and Home Care Aides
What they do: Assist people who need care with daily tasks in their own home due to illness or disability. They perform housekeeping chores and help patients bathe or move around the house, depending on their needs.
Education requirements: Much training is on-site and there are opportunities for certification, but experience often is the biggest asset.
Earnings: $22,163