Young people are finding it harder than ever to get a job with the doubling of unemployment among 18 - 24 year olds in the past year.

Recession has taken its toll of this age group, with official figures showing a 103 per cent jobless rise across the county.

Sevenoaks has seen the biggest percentage increase (161 per cent), followed by Ashford (126 per cent), Dartford (126 per cent), Tonbridge and Malling (124 per cent), Maidstone (120 per cent), and Tunbridge Wells (117 per cent). Rises in other towns are below 100 per cent, with Gravesham seeing the smallest increase (70 per cent), closely followed by Medway (71 per cent), Dover (74 per cent), Thanet (83 per cent), Swale (88 per cent) and Canterbury (90 per cent).

In a report published today by The Prince’s Trust and ESRC Centre for Giving and Philanthropy, Cass Business School predicts that the figures are set to rise with young people from deprived areas hit hardest.

The Prince’s Trust, which is about to launch its Million Makers campaign to raise thousands of pounds to help young people into jobs across the south east, claims the rise is costing the taxpayer £546,000 a week.

The charity says that with soaring unemployment and youth services vulnerable to cuts, youth charities will struggle to keep up with spiralling demands from disadvantaged young people.

"Vulnerable young people will suffer where need is greatest, as youth charities struggle to keep up with demand during the recession," said Professor Cathy Pharoah of Cass Business School. "The Prince’s Trust alone needs nearly £1 million a week to continue its work. Any loss of investment will have a huge cost to the future of the county."

Simon Fulford, the Trust’s south east regional director, added: "Our region’s most vulnerable youngsters will be permanently damaged by the downturn, unless they receive the support they need now.

"There are thousands of disadvantaged young people in the South East who are in need of our support and this will only increase unless we help young people into jobs. Only by investing in the next generation today will we be able to pull ourselves out of the recession."