JUST 20 per cent of the UK workforce are motivated by financial reward, according to the latest research by recruitment company Manpower.

Four in 10 of the workers surveyed are driven by a sense of responsibility, while 30 per cent are motivated by career advancement.

Jim O'Reilly, business manager at Manpower’s Chatham branch, said: "This Manpower research has important implications for businesses, demonstrating that motivating people to work is much more complex than just paying them well.

“People like to feel valued in their work and having some responsibility has been shown to be a key motivator."

Nearly a third of people said their key motivation for having a job is ambition. Less than 10 per cent are motivated to work to socialise with other people.

Mr O’Reilly added: "The fact that so many people are motivated to work by ambition suggests that employers should look at attracting employees by other methods than just financial reward.

"Communication is key to keep people motivated, employees like to feel they are listened to and that managers recognise the hard work they do. Regular appraisals can also help motivation, by setting key objectives and outlining career progression plans.”

The survey questioned 1,500 adults working in the UK.