John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, told Yahoo and Hot Jobs that careers in the following fields may offer a good chance of weathering a storm this year.

• Education - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has historically shown teaching to be relatively recession-proof. But demographics are important: High-growth areas like the Sun Belt offer much better prospects than the Rust Belt.

• Energy - "This is a major issue for the global economy, and jobs related to oil and gas, alternative energy and even nuclear are likely to see strong growth.

• Health care - Almost half the 30 fastest growing occupations are concentrated in health services -- including medical assistants, physical therapists, physician assistants, home health aides, and medical records and health information technicians.

• International business - "If you have a strong knowledge of other cultures, and an ability to work in another country, you'll find plenty of opportunities," according to John Challenger. "If you're first generation Chinese, with business skills and Chinese language skills, you're in good shape."

• Environmental sector - There is a huge and growing industry geared to combat global warming. Professionals with skills in sustainability issues will be in demand through the end of the decade, and there will probably be shortages of professionals with 'green' skills. Sustainablebusiness.com, a networking service for sustainable businesses provides a job board and industry news.  It is a good site for finding companies to research and contact.

• Security - Crime fighters, including police officers, port security specialists, and international security experts will continue to be in demand.

Recession-Proof Jobs in 2008