Less Pay, More Job Security

For some job seekers, a secure profession is worth much more than a hefty paycheck.

By Jessica Dickler, CNNMoney.com staff writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Would you be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for a secure job? Stephanie Jenkins would.

Jenkins, 51, worked in the hospitality industry for over 25 years until she was laid off for the third time in 14 months. It was then that she decided it was time for a fresh start, in an industry that offered more job security.

"I feel like the hospitality industry abandoned me," Jenkins said.

With a background in hotel sales and marketing, Jenkins focused her search on healthcare because of recent reports of increased hiring there.

Even in the midst of the recession, employment in health care grew by 221,700 jobs since January. During the same period, hospitality lost 114,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department.