What are the less work intensive industries?

There are no industries that require less hours, there are only Project Leaders / Engagement Managers / Principals that are more relaxed / less demanding. It's all about your project manager (and marginally about the partner but to a lesser extent).

Private Equity may be more exposed to due diligence (that are known to be super-intense 2-3 weeks projects) but still, the project manager makes the whole difference there too.

If you don't have strong personal preferences in terms of industries, you should focus your effort to create an affiliation with a strong, super solid, and possibly not workaholic PL/ EM / Principal. This is my best advice for any fresh consultant: being affiliated to a super-strong project manager is even more important than being affiliated to a partner, there are high chances that who is now your project manager will be in a couple of years your case partner when you will be the project manager.

Sorry for the answer without a real answer to your question

Hope it helps

Franco

Work load is less about the industry and more about the role & responsibilities. Thats the easiest way to look at it. You can work in Banking/PE in a task based/low responsbility role and have all the work life balance you want.

Another way to look at it is this way- when you enjoy what you do, the question of hours doesnt arise. You just make it work. So find that sweet spot. It takes time & some risks but if you make the right moves you will end up in a role & company where you genuinly enjoy yourself.

Sadly, most people are jobs for all the wrong reasons and just dont enjoy themselves.

I don't think there are industries that require less work than others - the differences are more country based than industry. Having said that, public sector work is often less demanding that other sectors - assuming your firm does that type of work.