Job characteristics and employee outcomes: criterion validity of the U.S. Occupational Information Network (O*NET) job analysis database in the Australian context

Abstract

ABSTRACT Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is a comprehensive job analysis repository, developed and periodically updated in the U.S. The study aims to validate O*NET in the Australian context and illustrate the potential to use O*NET as a source of robust occupational research data internationally. We first link O*NET data at the occupational level with individual-level data in the Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) database containing a sample of 3,829 individuals working in 209 occupations. We then conceptually replicate the primary hypothesized relationships from nine published studies that used O*NET ratings of four job characteristics (job hazards, emotional labour requirements, job autonomy, and task significance) to predict work-related outcomes. Specifically, we selected the same O*NET job descriptors used in the nine studies and linked them to similar but not identical employee outcomes obtained from the AWB database. Multi-level analyses showed that the hypothesized relationships were predominantly supported at the occupational level, demonstrating the criterion validity of the O*NET job characteristic profiles in the Australian context. Overall, our research highlights the potential to use O*NET in research and policy applications on a broader international scale, predicated on obtaining solid validation evidence.