The Social Environment

Level of education

As the level of education increases most health outcomes improve. Higher levels of education are associated with better jobs and higher incomes. In 2000, 77 percent of residents of Bexar County were high school graduates or had more years of education. Thirty percent had some college or an associate degree. Twenty-three percent were college graduates. For all levels of education Bexar County meets or exceeds the Texas average as well as exceeds the level in Harris County. However, within the county there is considerable disparity between the sectors in southern Bexar County where only 56 to 67 percent of residents have completed high school or more education. In the sectors in the north between 83 and 91 percent of residents have this level of education. It is important to note that in the Westside, 31 percent of residents have completed less than 9 years of education. Across the South sector, between 20 and 27 percent of residents have completed less than 9 years of education. Education plays an important role in determining the type of employment available to a person. The positive association between education and good health outcomes supports increasing literacy in all populations. Estimates of educational attainment are not available for 2004 but it is reasonable to assume that they are similar to the 2000 levels.

Unemployment

The ability to find and maintain employment is essential to a stable family life. In 2000, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in Bexar County. This is lower than both the Texas and Harris County rate (6.4 and 6.1 percent respectively). In the northern sectors, the rate is between 4.0 and 4.6 percent. The rates in the sectors in the south are double those in the north at 8.1 to 9.1 percent. Employment rates will fluctuate with the economy. However, since employment is associated with level of education, it is reasonable to expect that the trends in unemployment rates will follow the trends depicted here. Another concern in areas with low levels of education is under employment. In Bexar County, many people who have low- income jobs and work at more than one job. There are efforts in the county that promote a living wage, which is the wage a full-time worker would need to earn to support a family above federal poverty guidelines.