What is a 'job analysis' and how is it used?

• A. A structured assessment of a job's tasks, responsibilities, and environment to identify essential duties and necessary supports/modifications.
• B. A financial analysis of wage costs.
• C. A marketing study.
• D. A random survey.

Answer: (A)

A job analysis is a systematic process for gathering information about what a job actually requires—the tasks, duties, responsibilities, and the environment in which it’s performed. The goal is to identify the essential duties and the supports or modifications a worker may need to perform them. That information then informs practical uses such as writing accurate job descriptions and specifications, distinguishing essential from nonessential tasks, setting performance criteria, guiding recruitment and selection, identifying training needs, and planning accommodations or adjustments to enable job performance and safety. It’s not about finances, market research, or random surveys, which is why those options don’t fit.