Many of the permanent positions the firm recruits for are "at the lower end" of what a candidate in their fifties would want in terms of experience and seniority, he says.

Certain areas within IT, such as some software development skill sets and social media marketing, have a young focus, he says, and there aren't many over-50s in those fields.

But, in other areas such as project management, "someone with 20 years' experience has an advantage".

AbsoluteIT director Grant Burley says age discrimination isn't common in his experience.

"We get demand for certain skill-sets, and the client just wants the best candidate.