10 industries with the highest business survival rates

Canva Top banking executives and economists are sounding the alarm: The U.S. and global economies are likely headed for a recession in 2023. More than 1 million private companies opened between March 2021 and March 2022. But how many will survive if a recession hits? And which industries have the highest likelihood of success? Though the labor market conditions continued to improve, economists say it would be highly unusual for the U.S. job market to remain unscathed in a recession. Using 22 years of Bureau of Labor Statistics historical data, Growthink identified the 10 industries with the highest business survival rates. About 19% of private companies founded in March 2000 were still operational by March 2022. Survival rates for all of the top 10 industries surpassed that average. Growthink determined the number of surviving companies in each industry and how many jobs the industry creates. Keep reading to find out if you’re in an industry likely to survive a recession–and survive long-term.. #10. Manufacturing Canva – Survival rate since founding in March 2000: 20.7% – Total surviving establishments: 5,086 – Total employment of survivors: 212,449 (42 employees per establishment, on average) The manufacturing industry includes jobs associated with creating new products from raw materials or assembling components to create a new product. Workers in warehouses, factories, plants, and mills are part of the manufacturing industry. The level of education required for a career in manufacturing varies widely from one position to the next. Though machines have automated many manufacturing jobs with the advance of technology, companies will always need employees on the assembly lines to ensure smooth operations. #9. Health care and social assistance Canva – Survival rate since founding in March 2000: 20.8% – Total surviving establishments: 17,483 – Total employment of survivors: 345,809 (20 employees per establishment, on average) This type of business includes employees of companies that provide health care, food assistance, social services, vocational rehabilitation, and child care. This industry includes hospitals, physician’s offices, medical laboratories, youth and family centers, hospice care, and elderly care homes. Many positions in this industry are staffed by trained medical professionals with at least some higher education requirements. This is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. job market, employing more than 18 million workers. Four in 5 health care positions are held by women. This industry may require nontraditional work hours and expose employees to stress, patient violence, and potentially dangerous medical conditions. #8. Educational services Canva – Survival rate since founding in March 2000: 21.6% – Total surviving establishments: 1,378 – Total employment of survivors: 39,648 (29 employees per establishment, on average) The United States is grappling with a nationwide shortage of educators. Declining college enrollment in teaching programs means the demand for employees in this sector will continue to grow. Many factors are to blame for the current staff shortage in the education industry. The politicization of curriculum, frustrations over standardized testing, soaring class sizes, low pay, and limited resources top the list of complaints by workers in the education industry. The positive news is salaries in education are slowly rising across the country. Salaries in education vary widely depending on the position and level of experience but range from under $30,000 to over $100,000 annually. Some of the most in-demand positions in this industry include teaching assistants, school administrators, K-12 school teachers, occupational therapists, and interpreters. #6. Finance and insurance (tie) Canva – Survival rate since founding in March 2000: 21.7% – Total surviving establishments: 8,598 – Total employment of survivors: 156,531 (18 employees per establishment, on average) This business sector includes companies and positions involved in financial transactions or insurance services. Workers in these companies include financial managers, personal financial advisors, insurance sales agents, customer service representatives, and tellers. On average, employees in this industry work 43.4 hours weekly. It’s one of the three highest-paying industry subsectors in the country, with an average salary of $96,211. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 6.31 million people were employed in this industry in May 2021, and the numbers continue to grow yearly. #6. Real estate and rental and leasing (tie) Canva – Survival rate since founding in March 2000: 21.7% – Total surviving establishments: 5,508 – Total employment of survivors: 46,097 (8 employees per establishment, on average) This business sector includes companies that rent, lease, and facilitate purchasing and selling tangible assets like homes or commercial properties. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of working from home, many Americans wanted larger homes with a lower cost of living. In attempts to socially distance in the search for the perfect home, virtual home viewings and real-estate closings saw a sharp rise during the pandemic. There are over 3 million active real estate agents and over 106,000 active real estate brokerage firms in the United States. The average salary of workers in this industry was $54,330 in 2021, an increase from $43,330 in 2020. #5. Accommodation and food services