WASHINGTON — Some of the largest investment firms on Wall Street are gone. The country's auto industry is on the verge of collapse. Banks are shedding jobs. But in these doom-and-gloom times, there is someone who's hiring: your local military recruiter.

The economic downturn and rising unemployment rate are making the military a more attractive option, Pentagon officials say. In some cases, the peace of mind that comes with good benefits and a regular paycheck is overcoming concerns about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which any new enlistee is likely to join.

"There's no way to sugarcoat it: We're a nation at war," said Lt. Col. Michael Bennett, who commands the Maryland Army National Guard's recruiting battalion. "But we offer a stability of income that a lot of employers can't guarantee right now."

Since the military became an all-volunteer force in 1973, recruiters have generally struggled in times of private-sector job growth and done well during recessions. But in addition to the recent downturn, they say they are benefiting from better news out of Iraq, where U.S. casualities are down, and from the presidential election victory of Democrat Barack Obama, who has pledged to withdraw troops from Iraq.

The active-duty Army, which like other branches has increased benefits and added recruiters, said last month that it had recruited more than 80,000 soldiers during the past fiscal year, the third year in a row it has met its recruiting goals. Good news for the Army has coincided with terrible news elsewhere. The unemployment rate has jumped from 4.8 to 6.5 percent in the past 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. During that time, the ranks of the unemployed grew by 2.8 million, to 10.1 million.

Master Sgt. Veronica Womack, who processes recruits for the Maryland Army National Guard, said some soldiers-to-be have told her that the change in commander in chief was a factor in their decision to enlist.

"For the last couple of years, they were unsure about the direction the military was going in and if it was really for them," she said. One new enlistee told her that he joined because "the economy was bad, and he felt there was a real change since the election" in the direction of the country.

But no matter what sorts of benefits recruiters offer, or how slick the ad campaign, one of the main draws continues to be service to country, said Sgt. 1st Class Thad Copeland, an Army recruiter based in Alexandria, Va. Even if someone is joining because he can't find a job elsewhere, he needs to know that decision could mean a trip to the front lines.

"I know what your first question is, and the answer is yes," Copeland tells his prospects. "You are getting deployed."