The stock market has been absolutely pummeled, in what is being called the worst start to a year in American history. Trillions of dollars in wealthhave evaporated already. Walmart is closing hundreds of stores, Puerto Rico is facingeconomic collapse, and global shipping is dead in the water. And to top it all off, only a select few regions in the United States have managed to recover from the last economic crisis.

It's safe to say that we're about to plunge head first into another recession. And it's about time, because recessions tend to happen every 7-8 years, so we're a bit overdue. If you haven't already, now is the time to start bracing yourself for this eventuality. It's just like any other disaster. If you prepare yourself ahead of time, you stand a better chance of staying above water when everything goes to hell.

One of the many ways you can position yourself to survive and succeed before an economic calamity, is to consider what skills will be in demand when money is tight across the board.