A survey among 1,000 companies undertaken by Regus, which provides outsourced office space, revealed that only just over a quarter intend to hire working mothers over the year ahead compared with 38% last year even though 43% intended to increase headcount.

While just over two-thirds of employers recognised that returning mums constituted a significant and valuable part of the employment pool, nearly two out of five feared that working mums may show less commitment and flexibility than other employees.

Some 31% feared that they would leave shortly after training to have another child, while 17% were concerned that women returning to the workplace would have out-of-date skills.

Celia Donne, Regus' regional director, said: "It is not surprising to see that prejudiced attitudes come back into play with economic belt-tightening and some businesses are still guilty of applying old-fashioned misgivings to the contemporary work environment."

With the female labour pool likely to increase due to budget cuts in the public sector, where women made up two thirds of the workforce, employers could provide a more family-friendly and productive work environment via policies such as flexible working, she added.

Just over half of employers said that they valued returning mothers as they could offer skills and experience that were difficult to find in the current market, however, although a further 45% valued them because they felt they could access such experience and skills without having to pay top rates.