A third of new jobs are occupied by contractors, according to the new Work Audit published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Those under the age of 35 were the most likely to be hired in the first three quarters of 2010, with two thirds of all jobs created going to this age group.

Middle-aged jobseekers lost out as over-50s were the next most likely to be hired, with Dr John Philpott of the CIPD suggesting that employers could be worried about the high earning potential of this bracket.

In addition, 63 per cent of workers were employees , family workers made up six per cent and one per cent was constituted of people on government job schemes.

This comes after expert Laura Spencer wrote on Freelance Folder that contractors should not take rejection personally if they do not get every job they are interviewed for as this could hold them back in the future.