According to Ashridge Business School and the National School of Government, public and private-sector managers ranked challenging and interesting work the number one motivating factor.

Other popular motivators were high basic salary and learning and development.

More than half (55%) of managers in the public sector viewed top leadership in their organisation as effective compared to 74% of private-sector managers. But only 36% of public-sector managers thought their organisation was doing enough to develop the next generation of leaders.

Public-sector managers were more positive about work-life balance, with 24% working more than 60 hours a week compared with 52% in the private sector.

Mark Pegg, director of the Ashridge Public Leadership Centre, said: "This is the first time we have conducted the [research] within the public sector. It reveals a number of continuing challenges that need addressing, such as leadership development and communication from the top, but also shows a public-sector workforce with strong public values, full of passion, energy and loyalty."