Introduction: Workers in different occupations have been and are currently exposed to asbestos during asbestos mining, and in the manufacturing, use, and disposal of asbestos containing products. The purpose of this study is to construct an International Job-Exposure Matrix of Asbestos (IJEMA), based on the scientific information available, linking occupation and asbestos exposure at the country level. Methods: Countries were classified by income group, following the country-income classification of the World Bank. Two search cycles were conducted using PubMed as the main search engine. To include an article in the elaboration of the IJEMA, the following criteria were applied: 1. the study had to be fully written in English, 2. the article should have been peer reviewed, and 3. the study clearly mentioned asbestos exposure in an occupation. Occupations identified as having asbestos exposure were classified following the International Standard Classification of Occupations – ISCO-08, to build the International Job Exposure Matrix for Asbestos. Results: The most common occupations identified as having asbestos exposures were: Managers in construction- ISCO 1323, Civil engineering-ISCO 2142, Power production plant operators-ISCO 3131, General office clerks- ISCO 4110,Fire-fighters-ISCO 5411, Inland and coastal waters fishery workers-ISCO 6222, Insulation workers-ISCO 7124, Mineral and stone processing plant operators-ISCO 8112,Mining and quarrying laborers-ISCO 9311Important differences were identified in terms of the amount of scientific information available comparing countries income level groups. Conclusion: This is an initial effort to understand occupational asbestos exposures at the global level. Since is based on peer-reviewed scientific studies published in English, asbestos occupational exposures in several countries that are current asbestos consumers and producers were not identified.