Objectives Obtaining valid estimates of occupational exposures is an important objective of epidemiological studies involving the work exposome. Job-exposure matrices (JEM) Job-exposure matrices (JEM) link coded job titles to estimates of workplace exposures. This paper reviews their development over the past 50 years and provides practical guidance on their construction, selection, and use.

Methods We synthesized published literature and examples of existing JEM in a narrative overview of their historical development, construction, validation, and application. We organized practical considerations for developing and selecting JEM around exposure metrics, occupational classifications, temporal and geographical coverage, and validity.

Results JEM frameworks include exposure components and metrics; timing or location; whether exposures are based on direct measurements, expert opinion, or both; differentiation of qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative matrices; type of job classification used; incorporation of sex and other variables; and validity testing. Investigators seeking to use a JEM must assess several important features: existing JEM and their availability, compatibility of job coding systems (or existence of a correspondence table), relevant components and exposure metrics, and JEM limitations.

Conclusions Awareness of the strengths and limitations of JEM is important for their effective use. To date, JEM have been mostly used in large general population studies though future applications in research, exposome evaluation and for other public health and policy issues are likely.

Key terms epidemiology; exposome; exposure; JEM; job exposure; occupation; public health; worker