Office workers in the Midlands are struggling at the wrong end of a national table charting motivation - but are the tops in equating salary with job satisfaction.

That's part of the regional picture, according to research from management consultancy the Hay Group.

The study also found that Britain's workforce suffers from a motivation crisis that is "seriously harming" productivity.

Just 15 per cent of UK workers consider themselves highly motivated with as many as 24 per cent admitting to coasting and a further eight per cent completely demotivated.

The Midlands bounces along perilously close to the bottom of the league when it comes to high motivation.

Eleven per cent said they were highly motivated, with the North East and London a percentage point lower at ten per cent.

The Scots were the most motivated (29 per cent) with the South coming in above us at 14 per cent along with the North West at 12 per cent.

Thirty five per cent of Midlanders loved their job - only Londoners scored lower at 29 per cent - and we hit rock bottom when it comes to working in a dream job.

Just 12 per cent said their role fitted that description with the other regions landing scores of 16 per cent and 17 per cent.

When it comes to loyalty, the region came in at 40 per cent, tying with the North West, with London and the South scoring lower figures and Scotland and the North East higher.

Money is important to Midlanders - topping the table with 88 per cent considering salary the most important factor in job satisfaction.

The Scots (76 per cent) and South (75 per cent) were the least financially driven.

Eighteen per cent of Midlanders described themselves as very ambitious.

The North West topped the table at 24 per cent with the Scots at 19 per cent; London 16 per cent; North East 14 per cent and South 13 per cent.

Hay Group's What's My Motivation? report overall fund 39 per cent of employees love their job, and even less - a paltry 17 per cent - were doing their 'dream job'.

Less than half (48 per cent) of British employees considered themselves ambitious.

Just 21 per cent of British workers consider themselves "very effective" in their current job role.

Emmanuel Gobillot, director of leadership services and author of the report, said: "Companies are failing to engage their employees - and paying a heavy price in productivity. British business leaders must focus on gaining the buy-in of workers if Britain is to be competitive in an increasingly global economy."

The survey was carried out among a sample of 500 UK office based workers.