Job-exposure matrix

A job-exposure matrix (JEM) is a tool used to assess exposure to potential healthhazards in occupationalepidemiological studies.

Essentially, a JEM comprises a list of levels of exposure to a variety of harmful (or potentially harmful) agents for selected occupational titles. In large population-based epidemiological studies, JEMs may be used as a quick and systematic means of converting coded occupational data (job titles) into a matrix of possible exposures, eliminating the need to assess each individual's exposure in detail.