Socio-Economic Status and Occupational Differences in the Experience of Mortality

Jonathan H. Westover, Utah Valley University

Abstract

It is well recognized that work is a very important part of our everyday lives and that the type of work we do, coupled with our socioeconomic standing in society, can have a large impact on our health. Using data from the Utah Population Database to look at occupational differences in the experience of mortality among women born prior to 1900, I compare mortality and its causes by socioeconomic status, while specifically looking at the prevalence of first causes of death by occupational type. I find there are differences in causes of death and survival rates, by occupation and socioeconomic status.