This alarming rate of unemployment comes hand in hand with widespread involuntarily cut working hours, salaries, and benefits- none of which is reflected in this 8.5%. One of the few sectors that remains largely unaffected by this trauma to the workforce is healthcare, which is protected by it’s ‘essential service’ status and an aging, unhealthy population.

As an example, employment levels for medical sonographers is projected to rise by over 10% within the next six years. That’s huge growth compared to, say, positions in the financial sector. The salary of ultrasound technicians is also still on the rise each year, although growth has slowed somewhat since the global financial crisis in 2008.

Only time can tell us what 2012 will bring for employment levels and pay rates into the future. Job seekers would do well to consider getting into a protected industry like healthcare, although at this point there’s no guarantees of a stable job anywhere.