Public-sector trade union Unison reports between January and June this year, 12,472 young people joined - up 1,566 on the same period in 2008.
The record rise comes after 26,316 young members joined in 2008, compared with 23,492 in 2007.
Reasons for this include financial insecurity, proposed pay freezes in the public sector, age discrimination and apprenticeships.
Young Unison member Samantha McEnvoy, policy support member at Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, said: "I feel the key issues that affect young people affect every member. But as young members, we are exposed to age discrimination and not being taken seriously.
"More young people are joining during recession as they feel more at risk of losing their jobs. We are usually the last employed and the first to go."
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "The current economic crisis and its impact on young people has seen them desperate to get their voices heard."
Insecurity is behind record rise in young people joining trade unions
Young workers are turning to trade unions in a bid to ride out the recession.
