by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Unemployment across the county fell by more than 600 last month.

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance dipped by 625 to 33,320.

In Medway, the total fell by 81 to 6,674 (four per cent of the workforce) and in the rest of Kent by 544 to 26,646 (three per cent).

Each of the county's 12 districts - except Tonbridge and Malling - saw a fall in unemployment.

The biggest falls were in Ashford - down 106 to 1,822 - and Thanet - down 137 to 4,279.

In Tonbridge and Malling, unemployment edged up by five.

Nationally, the claimant count stood at 1.52 million, up 24,500 on the previous month.

The unemployment rate for the three months to May was 7.7 per cent, with the total number of people without a job falling by 26,000 to 2.45 million.

Unemployment on June 9: Kent and Medway, 33,320 (down 625); Medway, 6,674 (down 81); Rest of Kent, 26,646 (down 544); Ashford, 1,822 (down 106); Canterbury, 2,240 (down 46); Dartford, 1,945 (down 42); Dover, 2,203 (down 66); Gravesham, 2,593 (down 15); Maidstone, 2,338 (down 28); Sevenoaks, 1,201 (down 46); Shepway, 2,435 (down 23); Swale, 3,038 (down 28); Thanet, 4,279 (down 137); Tonbridge and Malling, 1,443 (up five); Tunbridge Wells, 1,109 (down 12).

Mark Marler will graduate from the University of Kent this Friday with a 2:1 degree in audio design and production.

But like many of his peers, the 27-year-old has found it difficult to find employment, describing the job hunt as "harder than the degree itself".

Mark, who lives in Deal, has sent off around 200 copies of his CV to potential employers and filled out some 50 application forms but has had just three replies.

He said: "Paying the bills is a constant worry and every single day is a struggle.

"I could let it get me down to the point I was at absolute despair but it wouldn't solve anything.

"I have to keep my chin up and come out the other side still smiling.

"Throughout my course I was worried about finding a job. At one stage I was up for failing my final year, just so I could stay on at university and give myself a bit more time.

"But I stuck it out, got my degree and I'm proud of that. It's disheartening but you can't let it get to you because everyone else is going through the same thing."