Over half of UK companies are planning to expand their workforce over the next six months, with fewer than one in ten thinking about cutting their staffing levels.

However, just over 65% of the 100 executives interviewed in the bi-annual hiring survey from Management Recruiters International, expected it would be difficult to find the skilled candidates they require during the first half of this year.

The survey also revealed that only 13.7% of those responsible for hiring staff claimed to be actively recruiting older workers, despite increasing evidence of an ageing population.

Just over one third (31%) of respondents said they associated middle management with being aged between 30-40 and only 0.9% considered them to be aged over 50.

“The job outlook for candidates, both tenured and recent graduates, looks very promising for the first part of the year - a situation that we anticipate will continue throughout the year,” said Steve Mills, senior vice president of Operations at Management Recruiters International.

“As demand for new hires increases and the oldest of the baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) begin to retire, we expect the shortage of qualified candidates will intensify,” he added.