The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has been named the third most attractive employer in the country.

The annual Randstad Award Employer Branding Research report found that men in particular perceived DIBP as an attractive employer, as well as people in the 45-66 year age group.

The study says 25 per cent of the Top 20 Most Attractive Employers in Australia were government departments, with the public sector found to be the fifth most attractive sector in Australia overall.

Thirty-seven per cent of survey respondents wanted to work for the government.

Job seekers listed long-term job security, a good work-life balance, pleasant working atmosphere and being environmentally and socially aware as the key attraction to public service.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) placed second ont he list of best places to work, with the Department of Defence and the Department of Health taking out ninth and tenth places respectively. Australian Federal Police scored 11th place, while the National Disability Insurance Agency was considered the 18th most attractive place to work.

"The investment Government Departments are putting into building positive and rewarding workplaces is paying dividends in their employer branding and therefore their ability to attract top performing talent,” Market Analyst at Randstad Australia Employment, Steve Shepherd said.

The top 20 organisations to work for in Australia were:

1. Virgin Australia

2. ABC

3. Dept. of Immigration & Border Protection

4. Seven Network

5. Qantas

6. Nestle

7. Wesfarmers (Coles, KMART, Target and Bunnings)

8. Coca-Cola Amatil

9. Department of Defence

10. Department of Health

11. Australian Federal Police

12. HP (Hewlett Packard)

13. GHD

14. BAE Systems

15. Toyota

16. Westfield

17. BHP

18. National Disability Insurance Agency

19. Rio Tinto

20. Mondelez (Cadbury, Vegemite, Philadelphia)