When the economy is down, you can still move up! I already belong to 2 of them, I am working on my third one. http://college.us.com/s/portals/myeduseek/index_article02.php
The news media reports that in my area (So. CA) teachers and law enforcement officers (along with associated administrators) education and law enforcement are being laid off, or hiring frozen, due to budget cuts and the recently passed state budget. Even working for the federal government is not safe anymore - For example NASA has laid off quite a few people in the last year (or talked employees into early retirement). When I'm asked by aspiring engineers as to what field they should enter I suggest chemical engineering and civil engineering - I see these fields as being somewhat recession proof and lay-off proof (and great pay)
