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Show Section II. Socioeconomic Indicators An individual's overall physical well-being is strongly influenced by his or her socioeconomic status. Measures of socioeconomic status include: social characteristics, income, employment, educational attainment and dwelling characteristics. All of these factors can influence a person's health by determining the level of access to healthcare information and services. Many studies have documented this phenomenon and concluded that there is a strong health differential between those on the higher end of the socioeconomic ladder and those on the lower end of the ladder. An examination of Utah's residents reveals a higher overall socioeconomic status than the rest of the United States. Utah's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August of 2001 of 3.8 was slightly lower than the nation's rate of 4.9. In looking at income, Utah has consistently had a lower per capita income than that of the nation. This may be attributed to the state's younger population. In 2000, 89.2 percent of Utah's population was classified as white, while the nation reported only 75.1 percent. Utah's racial profile makes it difficult to measure the health status of small populations. In order address the needs of minority groups in the state, Utah is taking many measures to meet the needs of rural, multicultural, and underserved communities. 54 Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume VIII |