Bayt.com and YouGov have released the Top Industries in the Middle East 2011, a survey that assesses what males and females over 18 years old throughout the region think are the best industries are in the region. The report assess perceptions of salary, benefits, work-life balance, career growth, talent retainment, and hiriing, including which are best for women or for post-college graduates, which industries employed professionals are switching into, and how the population perceives working for the government.

With Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals, Government/ Civil Service, and Banking/ Finance taking the top three slots, its clear that entrepreneurs have their work cut out for them in terms of wooing workers. But with IT voted a top sector that employees are switching into, it seems that sectors with more flexibility for small business creation are also on the rise.

Some highlights include:

• Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals is the best sector in terms of salary, benefits, work-life balance, career growth, and talent retention.
• Banking and Finance comes in next in many countries in terms of salary, work-life balance, career growth, and talent retention, although many vote Government and Civil Service as high for talent recruitment.
• Residents of almost every country in the Arab World voted either Government/ Civil Service or Banking and Finance as the most favorable industries for fresh college graduates, except for Tunisia, which voted Education and Academia #1. 
• IT was frequently cited as a good sector for hiring local talent and retaining talent, and also ranked as a sector that many employed professionals were switching into.
• Construction ranks highly as an attractive sector for expatriates. 
• Education is overwhelmingly the sector of choice for women, with Government and Civil Service the next preferred option.
• Overwhelmingly, the majority of employees still see the government as a favorable employer.

Do you agree?  

Download the report on Wamda.