Some 63.3 percent of Nicaraguans are inclined to seek jobs in other countries, up from 55.5 percent at the end of 2007, according to a poll released Monday.

Of those intending to seek jobs abroad, 44.5 percent prefer the United States, 28 percent prefer Costa Rica, while 12.3 percent prefer Spain, according to the poll conducted and published by a company called M&R Consultores.

Nicaraguans want to leave their country to find better jobs and improve their economical situation, the poll revealed.

About 42 percent of respondents said the main reason for seeking jobs abroad was the lack of jobs domestically, while 23.6 percent cited poverty as the cause and 17.1 percent said the rise in food prices was triggering the exodus.

Carried out between May 3 and 9 among 1,600 rural and urban Nicaraguans, the poll has a margin of error of 2.5 percent and a credibility level of 95.5 percent.