What is a job specification?

A job specification is a statement that includes the essential components of a job class. This statement typically includes the job duties, the work that is performed and the minimum requirements to perform the job.

Also included in a job specification is the training that is required to perform a job and the sensory demands of a job. The emotional characteristics necessary for a certain job class also are included in some job specifications. The job specification is considered separate from a position description, which defines the specific duties of a particular job. Employers use a process called job analysis to define both job specifications and position descriptions.