Forties People

New figures have suggested that mature aged jobs could be set to increase this year as employers look to expand their recruitment activities.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC's) monthly Jobs Outlook survey revealed that 94 per cent of employers intend to either maintain or grow the size of their permanent workforce during 2010.

And a fifth of respondents said they plan to increase the number of temporary staff they take on over the year, including contractors and freelance workers.

It is evidence of the important role that temporary employees have to play to both businesses and jobseekers looking to re-establish themselves in the labour market, the REC said.

"Businesses are naturally cautious about the economic recovery which is why the provision of temporary and contract work will continue to provide a useful outlet," said the organisation's director of research Roger Tweedy.

The REC's January 2010 Jobs Outlook report found that 94 per cent of companies are no longer planning to make job cuts for the rest of the year.