A recent survey conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s number on job site, and YouGov, a research and consulting organisation, has unveiled that34% of MENA professionals are considering an industry shift mostly into the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry (14%). However,35% of respondents are content in the industries they are currently employed in.
Reasons for Change
Of the top five industries that employees are considering moving into (oil, gas and petrochemicals; banking and finance; IT; human resources; manufacturing), the top motivational factor is money. Across each of these five sectors, the second reason cited is career growth opportunities followed by better job security.
Preferred Industries
Regionally, the preference for employment opportunities tends to lean towards the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry, with20% of survey respondents saying it is the best industry to work in, in their country of residence. The reasons for this are better career growth (25%), better job security (22%), and better remuneration packages (19%).
Second most popular is the government/civil service sector, with11% of respondents citing preference, predominantly for better job security (62%), followed by the fact that this sector was least impacted by the recession (10%), and the better work-life balance offered (9%).
Banking and finance comes in as third most desirable, opted for by10% of respondents. The reasons cited were better career growth (30%), better job security (20%) and better remuneration packages (18%).
“Oil, gas and petrochemicals is an industry that has long been associated with this region, and it is still clearly a favoured sector to work in with the majority of those looking to change careers preferring it. The trend is that employees today are looking for better salaries, job security and sectors that are less likely to collapse in a downturn, a clear sign that the recession is still affecting opinions,” said Amer Zureikat, VP Sales at Bayt.com. “Bayt.com is an ideal resource for employees who wish to explore further career options, with thousands of jobs covering all sectors readily available through the convenience of an online portal.”
Perceptions in Egypt
Respondents in Egypt see the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry as having the best salary packages (56%) and non-monetary benefits (24%). Following close on the heels in terms of perceived best salaries is banking and finance (24%), with airline ranking third (22%). As for benefits, the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry is followed by military, defence and police with21%, and education and academia with13%.
In terms of work-life balance, oil, gas and petrochemicals continues to dominate with30% saying it is the best industry in Egypt to offer this equation, banking and finance ranked second with19%, followed by telecommunications with13%.
When it comes to the industry offering the best career growth in Egypt,37% said oil, gas and petrochemicals,20% banking and finance, and19% manufacturing.
Manufacturing (26%) also seems to be hiring most in Egypt, followed by construction (22%) and tourism and hospitality (16%).
Oil, gas and petrochemicals tops again the list, this time as the industry retaining the best talent in Egypt (27%) followed by media (18%) and IT (17%).
As far as local talent is concerned, construction ranks first with15% saying it is most favourable and popular with local talent. Manufacturing comes second with8%, followed byconsumer goods and FMCG at6%.
Respondents in Egypt believe that tourism and hospitality (16%) is the industry that has downsized most in recent years; manufacturing (12%) and government and civil service (10%) are also considered to have been hit hard.
Oil, gas and petrochemicals (10%) is considered to be the most popular industry for expatriates in Egypt. Ranked second is manufacturing with10%. Construction came in third most popular, with9%.
Government jobs are considered to be extremely favourable by30% of Egypt-based respondents.
Industries considered to be the most favourable and popular for women in Egypt are government and civil service (17%), education and academia (13%) and domestic services (7%). As for fresh graduates, banking and finance is most popular (9%), followed by IT (8%) and government and civil service (7%).
“While the oil, gas and petrochemical industry is clearly a leading choice for many, it appears that the region’s banking and finance sector is up-and-coming for employment opportunities. That it is the top favoured industry for new graduates shows that there is clearly a demand for more jobs within that particular sector,” said Sundip Chahal, CEO, YouGov.
Data for the Bayt.com Top Industries survey was collected online from November1 -21,2011, with8,664 respondents aged18+, representing Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, KSA, Syria, Tunisia and the UAE.