Death and Taxes

Benjamin Franklin once said "the only things certain in life are death and taxes," and while most of us find little comfort in either of those certainties, in this economy, a growing number of people are taking succor in the certainty of death.

The Associated Press reports that schools offering an education in the business and science of death have seen a 20 percent spike in interest this year over last. It's a field that generally does well in down economies, most likely because of Ben's old adage.

"It just got to the point where your big players, your Honeywells, your DuPonts, everybody was laying off. So I said, 'I can't do this anymore. It's just too much of a roller-coaster ride...'" 50-year-old Alan Willoughby tells the AP. "Funeral services, for lack of a better phrase, it's kind of a recession-proof industry."

Careers in mortuary services won't make you rich, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics says funeral directors made an average of $58,810 in 2008 (that's before taxes). The hours can also be long. The AP reports that entry-level morticians often have to be on-call 24 hours a day. Morticians also have to be able to handle working very closely with, well, dead bodies, including removing bodily fluids, filling in wrinkles and otherwise beautifying the cadavers. And contrary to popular belief, funeral directors actually have to be good with people -- those among the living, that is. Grieving families need a sympathetic, especially from those handling their dead relatives.

So while it may seem like the last thing you want to be doing in a depression, a career in funeral services could well provide a bright spot in a gloomy economy.

But don't take my word for it: take it from the man whose face is on the 100 dollar bill.

Photo courtesy of jaspoid one via Flickr.