Worrying new research has shone a light on the way employers view men and women in the workplace.

According to a YouGov survey for the Young Women’s Trust, bosses are up to five times more likely to lable their male employees as ambitious, when compared to their female counterparts.

Confused? Offended? Downright appalled? – Us too.

But it gets worse.

For the study, 800 employees with human resources decision- responsibilities were asked a series of questions about the gender differences in the workplace.

Results revealed that men were perceived as the confident of the sexes, while women were said to be more “conscientious” at work.

As well as that, one-in-three participants said they believed sexism exists in their workplace while one-in-eight admitted that they knew of sexual harassment that had gone unreported.

And as if all this wasn't bad enough, one-in-10 revealed they were aware of a gender pay gap at their company.

While none of these findings have us jumping for joy, we're calling BS on the ambitious thing – and we're not the only ones.

“Young women do not lack ambition but too often they are held back by employers who – knowingly or not – discriminate against them,” said Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive at Young Women’s Trust.

“It’s no wonder women are held back in the workplace when those making hiring decisions have such outdated views,” she added.

“It is employers and our economy that miss out on the talents of young women as a result. Young women who want to work are meanwhile struggling to make ends meet and finding themselves in debt.

“We need urgent action to improve young women’s prospects and give them hope for the future.”