b'GREATER MONADNOCK COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2015-2018 Acknowledging that community health is a complex issue, this sectionMonadnock Region Average Annual Employment & Weekly Wagesof the Plan explores the economic, social, and physical factors at play in the Region that can broadly influence health such as access to goods andservices,economicopportunity,qualityhousing,socialcapital, education,etc.Italsoaddressesthevaryingdegree ofimpactthat these factors can have on health outcomes of specific populations.ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAcommunityswell-beingisinextricablylinkedtotheeconomyin which its residents participate.A Regions economy impacts multiple aspects of community life including the ability to earn a living, develop skills and access training, attract new residents and businesses to an area,andaccessservices.Invibrant,healthycommunities,people have sufficient income for essentials, businesses and organizations are able to hire new employees, and jobs are relatively easy to obtain.Despite its remote location and rural landscape, the Monadnock Region has had success with building and maintaining a diverse and resilient regional economy.However, in recent years, the economy has faced someofthemostsignificanteconomicchallengessincetheGreatSource: NH Department of Employment Security Depression - the collapse of the housing market, a global recession, and overadecadeofstagnantwages.Stilltoday,sixyearsaftertheResidents need access to employment opportunities that are of a living Recessions official end, the average annual unemployment rate in thewageinordertobeself-sufficientandleadhealthylifestyles.Region was 4.1% in 2014.While this rate is lower than the state (4.3%)Socioeconomicstatusunderliesthreemajordeterminantsofhealth: andnation(6.2%),itisstill0.8percentagepointshigherthanthehealth care, environmental exposure, and health behavior.In addition, prerecession low of 3.3% in 2006. chronicstressassociatedwithlowersocioeconomicstatusmayalso increase morbidity and mortality.If workers are not earning enough, In 2013, the Regions average weekly wage of $799 was 15% less thantheir ability to pay for essential needs such as housing, transportation, the statewide average of $942.According to research conducted byhealth care, food, taxes, etc. is severely limited, and they must make Healthy Monadnock 2020, an individual working a 40-hour work weekdecisionsaboutwhattheycanaffordinordertosurvive.These must earn a minimum of $600 weekly or $2,600 monthly to afford toindividuals are often forced to seek support from other resources, such live in the Region.In 2012, 26% of workers living in the Region earnedas family, friends, government programs, or move out of the Region. $1,250 per month or less, 36% earned between $1,251 and $3,333 per month, and 38% of workers earn more than $3,333 per month.10'