Women may be suffering the legacy of the male-dominated workforce, according to research from management consultancy Hay Group.

Hay Group’s Women’s Work? report reveals a significant gap in motivation and ambition levels between men and women, as well as fundamental differences in what drives the sexes in the workplace.

According to the study, men are 73% more likely than women to describe to themselves as highly motivated at work. More than half of men (54%) describe themselves as ambitious, compared to just 42% of women.

Men are also 62% more likely to be doing their dream job than women, with two thirds of men stating their job is well matched to their skills and abilities, compared to just two fifths 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 a third more productive with better training, according to the Hay Group study.

Work-life balance and the quality of working relationships were key determinants of job satisfaction for women. Men singled out power to make decisions and personal autonomy as their main drivers after challenging and interesting work.