Which of the following characteristics would NOT be considered a protected class under discrimination laws?

The correct choice, socioeconomic status, is not considered a protected class under federal discrimination laws in the United States. Protected classes typically include attributes such as race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion, as well as age (for individuals over 40 under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act) and, in some jurisdictions, marital status.

While socioeconomic status can play a role in access to opportunities and can intersect with other protected characteristics, it is not explicitly recognized as a protected class under major federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that discrimination based solely on an individual's economic background does not have the same legal protections as discrimination based on the other listed characteristics, which are outlined by specific laws designed to protect individuals in the workplace.