Demand for people with expertise in networks and maintaining computing infrastructure is high, particularly in emerging markets like India, China and the Middle East. (Thomas Kienzle/AP)Want a career designing computer networks?

The folks at Cisco want to hear from you. A new survey commissioned by the company shows there will be a shortage of 60,000 of these workers through 2011.

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Though auto workers and bankers may be in trouble, there are plenty of in-demand professions in North America, even in a slow economy. Sales, nursing and accounting are just a few of these recession-proof professions, according to a ranking by the career website Jobfox.com.

To compile its list, Jobfox examined its database of about 4,000 job postings in the U.S. from November 2007 through July 2008 to see which professions have the most openings monthly. The most recession-proof are those with the highest median monthly rankings over this time period.

Sales representatives top the list--and, unlike other professions, not because there's a shortage. Rather, in tough economic times, a good sales force is a critical way to pull a company out of a downturn.

"There are two kinds of companies," says Rob McGovern, CEO of Jobfox. "The kind that cut staff during the downturn and, on the other side, the ones trying to grow their way through the downturn."

Network administrators, No. 6 on the list, are responsible for the design and management of the physical and technical structure of company's communication tools — such as shared files, e-mail, teleconferencing and company Web sites. Demand is particularly high in emerging markets like India, China and the Middle East, which are these creating networks for the first time.

And, to remain competitive, North American and Western European companies are upgrading their networks. Don't have the right credentials? Many companies have teamed with community colleges and other outfits to offer relevant training.

Nursing (No. 3) is another profession facing a shortage — due partly to aging baby boomers and, ironically, advances in medicine. Patients who wouldn't have survived cancer or HIV 10 years ago are living longer thanks to new medical breakthroughs, but they require more long-term treatment. Also, fewer women are entering the predominantly female profession these days because of growing career opportunities elsewhere.

Then there are the bean counters. Tax work, auditing, preparing company's quarterly reports and all of that still goes on, tough economy or not.

"These things happen no matter what," says Diane Borhani, who heads campus recruiting for Deloitte & Touche.

Also, says Borhani, there's increased demand for accounting consultants in order to make businesses "run more efficiently."

Hmm. Is this code for "shrinking the workforce"?

Nursing school, anyone?