There is a significant gap in motivation and ambition levels between men and women in the workplace, according to a study carried out by the Hays Group.
The Women’s Work? study of 500 staff found that men are 73% more likely than women to describe themselves as highly motivated at work.
More than half (54%) of men describe themselves as ambitious, compared with just 42% of women. Men are also 62% more likely to be doing their dream job than women, with two-thirds (59%) of men stating their job is well matched to their skills and abilities, compared with just two-fifths (41%) of women.
Women believe that they would be as much as 46% more productive if they were doing a job they loved, and up to one-third more productive with better training.
Hays Group director Emmanuel Gobillot, author of the study and The Connected Leader, said: “The workplace is no longer the preserve of men, but the legacy of the male-dominated workforce may be affecting women’s prospects.
“Our research suggests that the job roles we create, values we prize and training we provide still fail to motivate women to the same degree as men.”
He also said that this is leaving close to half of the workforce worryingly de-motivated, which is having a damaging effect on productivity.
“What we need in the workplace is not only a focus on achievement and power, but also the forging of coalitions in order to get the job done,” he said. “By failing to engage women, employers are de-motivating the very people they need most.”
Business leaders must ensure they create a workplace culture which engages all employees, or pay the price in productivity, he added.
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