There has been a major increase in the number of doctors and nurses at either end of their career undertaking contract work since 2009, according to a study by umbrella administration company FPS.

The increase is particularly high among recent graduates, where the number of doctors and nurses aged 18 to 29 working in a contract or freelance role increasing by 90% since 2009, and there is also an increase among the over-50s, where there has been a 5% increase in doctors taking on freelance work.

However, doctors and nurses aged 29 to 49 are now less likely to take on contracted work.

Meanwhile, the number of freelance pharmaceutical positions has decreased significantly in the past two years, with over 26% fewer pharmacists taking on contracted work now compared to 2009.

Simon Last-Sutton, managing director of FPS, suggests that the increase in contract worker among younger workers is more likely to be out of necessity through lack of permanent roles, while older professionals’ choices would more probably be a lifestyle choice.

He continues: “It is only in the middle tier where we have seen a drop in the number of contracted medical professionals, suggesting that, unsurprisingly, job security is the most important factor for this age group.”