This article analyzes the characteristics of the modernization process in Mexico and the polarization produced in living and health conditions for the general population as well as workers and their families. We studied socioeconomic and health indicators for this purpose. Infectious diseases occupy a high percentage of general morbidity, yet diseases such as diabetes, hepatic cirrhosis, myocardial infarction, malignant tumors, and accidents and violence are also serious public health problems as causes of morbidity and mortality. In some regions of the country with specific socioeconomic characteristics, polarization of health conditions is even more evident, as in the state of Chiapas as compared to Nuevo León. Deterioration of working conditions and available data on workers' health indicate that the latter should be considered a priority group for health measures. Such data also show the paradoxical trend of the more severe but less frequent work-related accidents and diseases that are subject to compensation as compared to the detection of chronic work-related diseases at an advanced stage, as well as significant differences in occupational morbidity among different branches of manufacturing.