Three-quarters of recruitment agencies worked with employers who indicate they would prefer not to employ pregnant women or those of a child-bearing age.

These were the findings of a poll of Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) members for BBC2’s The Money Programme.

Some 22% of respondents said the situation was getting worse and 39% said it was not improving.

“Professional recruiters have a key roll to play in tackling this kind of discrimination as they are on the front line of the labour market and can challenge the lack of awareness and mis-conceptions that exist,” said Tom Hadley, director of external relations at the REC.