Utilities are often seen as a recession-proof sector since people always need basic services like water and electricity.

recession-proof 是由 recession（经济衰退）和 proof（防...的）组成的复合形容词。recession 指经济衰退期，proof 作为后缀表示"防...的、抗...的"。 recession-proof 意思是"抗经济衰退的"，形容在经济不景气时仍能保持稳定需求的行业或产品。