Creating safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces doesn’t happen by chance—it starts with understanding the work itself.
In today’s evolving world of work—shaped by AI, automation, and shifting workforce expectations—generic job descriptions no longer cut it.
To design work that truly fits your people and your business, you need a smarter approach. That’s where Job Task Analysis comes in—bringing clarity, agility, and precision to modern job design.
What is Job Task Analysis?
Job Task Analysis is a structured way of breaking down a role into its everyday tasks and assessing what it really takes to do the job well—physically, cognitively, and psychologically.
It’s not about box-ticking or bureaucracy. It’s about building the foundation for:
• Safer, more efficient job design
• Smarter recruitment and onboarding
• Practical return-to-work planning
• Psychosocial risk prevention
• Better employee wellbeing and performance
Think of it as work design that actually works.
Why It Matters—The Business Case for Smarter Job Design
The Cost of Poor Work Design
Poor job design—including high job demands, lack of role clarity, and insufficient support—is now widely recognised as a major contributor to workplace mental health injuries. In 2022, psychological injury claims made up 9.3% of all serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia, with a median time lost of 30.7 weeks—five times longer than for physical injuries [1]
Beyond the personal toll, the economic impact is substantial. Work-related injuries and illnesses cost the Australian economy an estimated $28.6 billion annually, driven by lost productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism, and workers’ compensation claims [2].
Work Design and Return-to-Work Outcomes
Better job design also supports stronger return-to-work outcomes. According to Comcare, workplaces with clear task structures and high-quality job design achieved 50% higher return-to-work success rates than those with vague or inconsistent design [3]. Clearly defining job tasks and aligning them with employee capabilities improves reintegration outcomes and supports recovery.
Case Study: Empowering Smarter Work Design to Reduce Injury and Improve Wellbeing
Industry: Vocational Education and Training
Focus Area: Job Task Analysis, Smart Work Design, Psychosocial Risk Assessment
Services Delivered: Role Analysis, Risk Management, Return-to-Work Strategy, Pre-employment Screening Support
Overview
A large vocational education provider partnered with Aspect Group to improve workplace psychological health and safety by conducting a comprehensive job task analysis across several departments. The goal: to minimise injury risks and support employee wellbeing through smart work design and psychosocial risk management.
The Challenge
The organisation sought to assess approximately 90 roles across teaching, facilities, people and culture, and student support. The client’s key objectives included:
• Preventing physical and psychological injury through better work design
• Identifying high-risk tasks requiring further assessment
• Supporting return-to-work and rehabilitation planning
• Informing pre-employment screening and staff induction programs
• Aligning job design with legislative obligations and mental health standards
The Solution
Aspect Group rolled out a customised Job Task Analysis program that included:
• Staff interviews to understand real-world task demands
• On-site observations and assessments of the physical environment
• Psychosocial risk identification and task analysis
• Tailored job reports for each role analysed
• Recommendations to improve safety, mental health, and work performance
Outcomes
• Improved role clarity to support induction, onboarding, and training
• Implementation of smarter work design solutions to reduce risk and increase efficiency
• Enhanced return-to-work strategies supported by clearly defined work demands and alternative duty options
• Stronger recruitment alignment via targeted pre-employment screening
• Early identification of psychosocial risks to facilitate prompt preventative action and support.
Client Feedback
“The team from Aspect Group were incredibly professional, responsive, and flexible to our evolving needs. Their expertise has helped us create a safer, healthier workplace and strengthened our injury prevention strategies across multiple departments.”
— Health & Safety Manager, Vocational Education Provider
JTA as a Preventive Tool for Compliance and Wellbeing
Investing in proactive tools like Job Task Analysis also supports organisations in meeting their obligations under ISO 45003 (Managing psychosocial risks) and the Model WHS Laws, which require employers to address both physical and psychological hazards in the workplace.
Rather than reacting to incidents after they occur, JTA enables organisations to take a preventive approach, using real data to design jobs that are safer, more engaging, and better aligned with employee capabilities.
Let’s Redesign Work, Together
At Aspect Group, we combine organisational psychology with real-world insight to deliver job task analysis services that make a genuine impact. We don’t just analyse—we partner with you to build smarter, safer work from the ground up. By analysing the physical, mental, and emotional demands of work, we give teams the insights they need to prevent injuries, reduce burnout, and support better hiring and return-to-work strategies.
Whether you’re redesigning roles, reviewing injury prevention strategies, or navigating psychosocial risk legislation, our team is here to help.
Book a free discovery call today and let’s explore how job task analysis can support your goals.