The survey, which compared women bank managers and doctors, in Norway, France and UK found that many of those women bankers were either having no children or restricting themselves to just one child to keep up with work.

Women doctors on the other hand were having more children - only 37% of women bankers surveyed had two or more children, compared to 65% of women doctors.

The problem extended to men as well. Male bankers were less likely to have children than doctors, according to the research by Professor Rosemary Crompton for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Even in countries, such as Norway, that are well known for their "family-friendly" policies showed that achieving a work/life balance is harder for bank managers than professional workers.

Hard time

Researchers say that the difference experienced between doctors and managers is due to professional qualifications.

"Whereas professional qualification bestow a 'licence to practice' which can be used flexibly over employment and family lives, managerial careers are subject to organised constraints that hinder such flexibility", said Professor Crompton.