by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Four Kent districts each suffered treble-digit hikes in unemployment as the county total shot up by more than 1,400.

The closure of the Thamesteel plant on Sheppey was behind a steep rise of 266 in Swale to 3,892 (4.6% of the workforce).

Thanet also fared badly, with 172 people joining the dole queue of 5,069 (6.4%). Ashford was another unwilling member of the hundred club, with a surprise increase of 111 to 2,147 (3%).

Tonbridge and Malling saw unemployment rise 147 to 1,730 (2.3%). Gravesham and Maidstone narrowly missed the three-figure mark with 90-plus rises.

As the labour crisis deepened, the total number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Kent and Medway reached 39,174 last month (Feb) - a rise of 1,461.

An extra 233 people joined Medway's dole queue as the total leapt to 7,649 (4.5%).

Across the rest of Kent, the claimant count rocketed by 1,228 to 31,525 (3.5%).

Nationally, unemployment soared to a 17-year high of 2.67 million, up 28,000 on the previous quarter and 8.4% of the workforce. It has not been at this level since 1995. However, the pace of jobless growth was at its slowest quarterly rate since May 2011.

Unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 16,000 to reach 1.04 million.

KPMG said the figures were disappointing, but the major concern was around the increasing level of jobless youth.

"It's no exaggeration to suggest that, unless this tide is stemmed, we face a tough future because the cost of supporting young people as they find work, coupled with a job market that fails to refresh itself, will have a long-term adverse effect on the economy."

The CBI said it was vital for the Chancellor to use next week's Budget to unlock business investment because "only sustainable private sector growth will help tackle unemployment."

Claimant count on February 9: Kent and Medway, 39,174 (up 1,461); Medway, 7,649 (up 233); Rest of Kent, 31,525 (up 1,228); Ashford, 2,147 (up 111); Canterbury, 2,655 (up 73); Dartford, 2,040 (up 66); Dover, 2,790 (up 55); Gravesham, 2,940 (up 97); Maidstone, 2,704 (up 93); Sevenoaks, 1,418 (up 30); Shepway, 2,892 (up 59); Swale, 3,892 (up 266); Thanet, 5,069 (up 172); Tonbridge and Malling, 1,730 (up 147); Tunbridge Wells, 1,248 (up 59).