Workers lose their ambition at the age of 35 and no longer compete with colleagues for promotion Ambition at work has declined overall in the past 15 years Bringing up children one of the likeliest causes Workers lose their ambition at the age of 35, a study has found. Researchers in the U.S. found that ambition at work had declined overall in the past 15 years - especially among men. The age of 35 is the age when men and women no longer compete with their colleagues for promotion or seek greater responsibility in their roles. Findings: Workers lose their ambition at the age of 35, a new study has found. This file picture of a job interview is posed by models The study by the Families and Work Institute found that drive never recovers throughout a working life. However, the speed of decline slows for women when they reach retirement age. As reported by The Times, in 1992, 59 per cent of men of all ages said they wanted more power and responsibility in their jobs. But by 2008, this was figure was down to just 44 per cent. It is believed that bringing up children is one of the likeliest causes of people losing their ambition. For many people, the age of 35 could coincide with the tiring and demanding job of bringing up small children. Demanding: It is thought that bringing up children is one of the likeliest causes of people losing their ambition. This picture is posed by models Another reason behind the longer term decline of ambition could be down to 'the 'converging roles of mothers and father', the study found, as men take on more domestic duties. Twice as many workers attempt to gain promotion at the age of 24 than at 44.