Female workers are more likely than their male counterparts to find career inspiration from a drive to succeed, passion for their job and family support, new research reveals.

A study conducted by Accenture for International Women's Day indicates that 59 per cent of women cite ambition as the reason they have advanced in their career, followed by passion (42 per cent) and family (30 per cent).

Meanwhile, men were found to attribute their advancement to technical capabilities and the development of professional relationships.

The survey also discovered that female employees feel most limited in their careers by the need to devote energy to their family, followed by a reluctance to relocate.

Responding to the findings, Accenture chief leadership officer Adrian Lajtha stressed the importance of workers continuing to develop their skills to advance in their chosen field.

"Talent management – attracting, developing and retaining the right people for today's business imperatives – has truly become a global issue," she commented.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of women in the workforce is expected to grow at a faster rate than the number of men between 2006 and 2016.