A THIRD (34%) of women and a quarter of men (26%) say they would prefer a male boss to a female one, despite men and women having equal qualities in leadership, new research from Hobbs, the women’s fashion retailer, has revealed.

At a time when professional equality remains a pressing debate, the majority of the nation (61%) agree that it does not matter whether they work for a man or woman. Many, however, notably women themselves and the older generations, still have a preference for working for a man.

The findings imply that the nation’s preference could be down to a lack of confidence from many women in the workplace - not only confidence in themselves but also a lack of confidence in their female colleagues.

Seventy-six per cent of the women surveyed say they need to be more confident in their own abilities to achieve their professional goals and 48% say that women must be more supportive of each other at work.

The youngest adult generation, those aged 18 to 24, were the only age group to prefer a female boss to a male one. Hobbs believes that is due to new talent entering the workforce with a fresh and open mindset, following the more even playing field between girls and boys in education.

That equality drops off in the subsequent early years of work and those aged 25 to 34 show more preference for a male boss than the rest of the working population.

The most important qualities of a good leader are considered to be a good listener and a good communicator, for both of which women score higher than men.

Men, however, fared significantly better than their female counterparts in displaying a greater sense of humour and showing more confidence. See table below.

Nicky Dulieu, chief executive of Hobbs, said: “From our research it is clear that women need more support in building not only their own confidence in the workplace but also confidence in and support for, one another.

“This seems particularly important in the early years of a woman’s career, when she appears to have a tendency to look to men as her preferred leader.”

Iain MacRitchie, chairman of Hobbs, said: “As chairman working in a majority female board, I have seen at first hand all the required leadership qualities, creativity and confidence.

“From the research, male bosses are deemed to have more confidence and having less confidence in their own abilities really hinders women.

“This confidence inequality can be addressed positively through more active support and encouragement from both genders, as well as providing greater flexibility and understanding on the part of employers.”