Plenty of people encourage students to follow their dreams and pursue their passions. While it’s true that it’s a good idea for people to focus on their strengths and study things that interest them, it’s also true that most people are looking to land a great job after graduation. In today’s economy, it’s harder than ever to find a job straight out of college, particularly when competing against people with years of experience. Believe it or not, though, there are actually fields where there is a demand for people with particular degrees. These jobs don’t have enough workers to fill all of the positions they have available. This is true in many areas, and anyone graduating with one of these in-demand degrees will have their pick of jobs, even in a recession.

Software Engineer

As the world becomes an increasingly digital one, software engineers will continue to be in very high demand in the future. More and more companies both small and large will need software engineers to create software systems and applications to help run various company operations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the next decade the industry is expected to grow over 30%. With demand for software engineers growing, and not enough students graduating to fill all of the jobs, those graduating with a software engineering degree should have no trouble finding employment.

Nursing

Nursing is a great recession-proof degree. There is a constant shortage of nurses in the United States, with not enough students graduating to fill all the positions. With the increase in healthcare costs, and the number of baby boomers needing healthcare, nursing is a degree that will be in demand for a long time. While a bachelor’s degree in nursing is best for those who want to move into managerial positions or want to further their education with a master’s degree, an associate’s degree is a quick way to get into the field and start working.

Accounting

Whether the economy is in a recession or a boom, companies will always need accountants. In a recession, companies will be looking for ways to cut back and save money, and almost always hire people with accounting degrees to do this work for them. Companies have to pay their taxes yearly, too, so there’s always a demand for those with an accounting degree.

Teaching

No matter the economic climate, kids still have to get an education, so a teaching degree can be a wise investment. For the most security in a recession, specialize in a field such as math, science, or special education, where many school districts are begging for qualified teachers.

Environmental Science

With green jobs becoming the wave of the future, and plenty of regulations in place for ways to make current industries more environmentally friendly, a degree in Environmental Science could be just the ticket for a great career in a growing field.

Terry Southerland is a career advisor and content contributor for thebestdegrees.org, a site providing lists of online degrees as well as rankings of colleges with the best associate degrees.