Women have become increasingly stressed in the workplace since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

New research shows that in a survey of more than 1,000 people across Ireland, 87% of women say they are feeling more burned out by their job since the pandemic compared to 75% of men.

The study by consultants Accenture to mark International Women's Day today also showed that 71% of women feel their physical and mental wellbeing has suffered, compared to 54% of men.

And 58% of all respondents feel they need to be more "available" from a work perspective since the start of the pandemic, with the gender breakdown showing women feel it more - 72% compared to 54% of men.

Overall, 64% of respondents have felt more overwhelmed by increasing responsibilities both at home and at work.

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More than two thirds of women - 68% - confessed to feeling worried about expressing their feelings around being burnt out in case it holds back their career progression. In addition, almost half of the women surveyed (46%) have considered downshifting or leaving the workforce altogether this year. Just one third of men considered likewise.

Primary parenting responsibilities appear to still lie with the mother, with women being identified by those surveyed as being most likely to experience childcare difficulties.

Some 71% of respondents also agreed that over the last two years, colleagues have discussed childcare difficulties, with more than three quarters of that number being women.

Dr Michelle Cullen, managing director and inclusion and diversity lead at Accenture in Ireland, said: "The post-pandemic workplace and technology advances offer us a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change, but we need to act with intention to avoid exacerbating gender inequality and the skills shortage.

"What our survey shows is that ideas about the roles of women and men in home-building and raising a family are stubbornly stuck in an older world. These biases persist in our education systems, our businesses and even in our own family systems, and if we want to change the post-pandemic workplace, we need to confront these biases."

She added: "There is a palpable sense of frustration among the women in this survey, a recognition that something will have to give if they want to raise a family and forge ahead in their career to the best of their ability. We must address these issues now to ensure that the next generation enter the workplace with a better shot at achieving a work-life balance and share responsibility for raising the next generation."