Most people in major European countries and the United States believe unemployed immigrants should be asked to leave, a poll showed today, indicating growing fears over competition for scarce jobs.

The FT/Harris polls published by the Financial Times showed more than three-quarters of Italians and Britons and a majority in France, Germany, Spain and the United States would support their governments asking immigrants to leave.

The results of the poll suggest rising unemployment could push the issue of immigration up the political agenda in Europe and may boost support for far-right parties.

Unemployment rates in Europe and the United States have begun to rise sharply in response to the global economic crisis. Spain's jobless rate is more than 14 percent, while Germany and France have rates of over 7 and 8 percent respectively.

In Britain, where unemployment is at its highest for a decade, the tight job market has put a renewed focus on the use of foreign workers. British construction workers protested earlier this year over the hiring of foreign contractors.

Britain's immigration minister, Phil Woolas, told the Financial Times the survey's findings were "not a surprise" but were "a concern" and that the government was keen to reassure the public it was in control of immigration.

The FT Harris poll questioned a total of 6,538 adults online in France, Germany, Britain, Spain and the United States and Italy between Feb. 25, and Mar. 3.

A majority of respondents in all countries said they would support their government asking immigrants to leave the country if they did not have a job.

The poll also showed that most Britons and just under half of Germans are opposed to citizens of other EU countries getting into their national job market.

Most Italians and Spaniards, however, said they did support EU citizens who wanted to work in their countries.

Asked about protectionism, around a third of French, Italians, Spaniards and Germans said they did not think national protectionism could significantly contribute to their country coming out of the recession.

The FT/Harris poll also found that just under half of Germans and Americans believed that free trade could significantly help their country to come out of recession.

But others were less sure: just over a third of Italians and Britons agreed with that suggestion