diff --git a/runtime/doc/eval.txt b/runtime/doc/eval.txt
index 8994c313b3a399..6caa42d1722e91 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/eval.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/eval.txt
@@ -4024,10 +4024,22 @@ jobsend({job}, {data})					{Nvim} *jobsend()*
 			:call jobsend(j, ["abc", "123\n456", ""])
 < 		will send "abc<NL>123<NUL>456<NL>".
 
-jobstart({name}, {prog}[, {argv}])			{Nvim} *jobstart()*
-		Spawns {prog} as a job and associate it with the {name} string,
-		which will be used to match the "filename pattern" in
-		|JobActivity| events. It returns:
+jobstart({argv}[, {opts}])			{Nvim} *jobstart()*
+		Spawns {argv}(list) as a job. If passed, {opts} must be a
+		dictionary with the any of the following keys:
+		  - on_stdout: stdout event handler
+		  - on_stderr: stderr event handler
+		  - on_exit: exit event handler
+		  - user: user data passed to all callbacks
+		  - pty: If set, the job will be connected to a new pseudo
+		    terminal, and the job streams are connected to the master
+		    file descriptor.
+		  - width: Width of the terminal screen(only if pty is set)
+		  - height: Height of the terminal screen(only if pty is set)
+		  - TERM: $TERM environment variable(only if pty is set)
+		Either funcrefs or function names can be passed as event
+		handlers.
+		Returns:
 		  - The job id on success, which is used by |jobsend()| and
 		    |jobstop()|
 		  - 0 when the job table is full or on invalid arguments
diff --git a/runtime/doc/job_control.txt b/runtime/doc/job_control.txt
index 000409597fe0e9..bf19619e0c5662 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/job_control.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/job_control.txt
@@ -38,26 +38,28 @@ for details
 2. Usage						*job-control-usage*
 
 Job control is achieved by calling a combination of the |jobstart()|,
-|jobsend()| and |jobstop()| functions, and by listening to the |JobActivity|
-event. The best way to understand is with a complete example:
+|jobsend()| and |jobstop()| functions. The best way to understand is with a
+complete example:
 >
-    set nocp
-    let job1 = jobstart('shell1', 'bash')
-    let job2 = jobstart('shell2', 'bash', ['-c', 'for ((i = 0; i < 10; i++)); do echo hello $i!; sleep 1; done'])
-
-    function JobHandler()
-      if v:job_data[1] == 'stdout'
-        let str = 'shell '. v:job_data[0].' stdout: '.join(v:job_data[2])
-      elseif v:job_data[1] == 'stderr'
-        let str = 'shell '.v:job_data[0].' stderr: '.join(v:job_data[2])
+    function s:JobHandler(job_id, data, user, event)
+      if a:event == 'stdout'
+        let str = a:user.' stdout: '.join(a:data)
+      elseif a:event == 'stderr'
+        let str = a:user.' stderr: '.join(a:data)
       else
-        let str = 'shell '.v:job_data[0].' exited'
+        let str = a:user.' exited'
       endif
 
       call append(line('$'), str)
     endfunction
+    let s:callbacks = {
+    \ 'on_stdout': function('s:JobHandler'),
+    \ 'on_stderr': function('s:JobHandler'),
+    \ 'on_exit': function('s:JobHandler')
+    \ }
+    let job1 = jobstart(['bash'], extend({'user': 'shell 1'}, s:callbacks))
+    let job2 = jobstart(['bash', '-c', 'for ((i = 0; i < 10; i++)); do echo hello $i!; sleep 1; done'], extend({'user': 'shell 2'}, s:callbacks))
 
-    au JobActivity shell* call JobHandler()
 <
 To test the above, copy it to the file ~/jobcontrol.vim and start with a clean
 nvim instance:
@@ -72,15 +74,19 @@ Here's what is happening:
 - The second shell is started with the -c argument, causing it to execute a
   command then exit. In this case, the command is a for loop that will print 0
   through 9 then exit.
-- The |JobHandler()| function is called by the `JobActivity` autocommand (notice
-  how the shell* pattern matches the names `shell1` and `shell2` passed to
-  |jobstart()|), and it takes care of displaying stdout/stderr received from
+- The `JobHandler()` function is a callback passed to |jobstart()| to handle
+  various job events. It takes care of displaying stdout/stderr received from
   the shells.
-- The v:job_data is an array set by the JobActivity event. It has the
-  following elements:
+- The arguments passed to `JobHandler()` are: 
+
   0: The job id
-  1: The kind of activity: one of "stdout", "stderr" or "exit"
-  2: When "activity" is "stdout" or "stderr", this will contain a list of
+  1: If the event is 'stdout' or 'stderr', a list with lines read from the
+     corresponding stream. For 'exit', it is the status returned by the
+     program.
+  2: User data set in the "user" option passed to |jobstart()|. Can be any
+     vimscript object and is used to identify the context when multiple
+     |jobstart()| calls share a single set of callbacks.
+  3:  is "stdout" or "stderr", this will contain a list of
      lines read from stdout or stderr
 
 To send data to the job's stdin, one can use the |jobsend()| function, like
diff --git a/src/nvim/eval.c b/src/nvim/eval.c
index b0fbcd60cdd96d..d7a3fc55f9c02b 100644
--- a/src/nvim/eval.c
+++ b/src/nvim/eval.c
@@ -430,7 +430,6 @@ static struct vimvar {
   {VV_NAME("oldfiles",         VAR_LIST), 0},
   {VV_NAME("windowid",         VAR_NUMBER), VV_RO},
   {VV_NAME("progpath",         VAR_STRING), VV_RO},
-  {VV_NAME("job_data",         VAR_LIST), 0},
   {VV_NAME("command_output",   VAR_STRING), 0}
 };
 
@@ -450,7 +449,8 @@ typedef struct {
   Terminal *term;
   bool exited;
   int refcount;
-  char *autocmd_file;
+  ufunc_T *on_stdout, *on_stderr, *on_exit;
+  typval_T user;
 } TerminalJobData;
 
 
@@ -463,9 +463,12 @@ typedef struct {
                                    valid character */
 // Memory pool for reusing JobEvent structures
 typedef struct {
-  int id;
-  char *name, *type;
+  int job_id;
+  TerminalJobData *data;
+  ufunc_T *callback;
+  const char *type;
   list_T *received;
+  int status;
 } JobEvent;
 #define JobEventFreer(x)
 KMEMPOOL_INIT(JobEventPool, JobEvent, JobEventFreer)
@@ -5936,6 +5939,33 @@ dictitem_T *dict_find(dict_T *d, char_u *key, int len)
   return HI2DI(hi);
 }
 
+// Get a function from a dictionary
+static ufunc_T *get_dict_callback(dict_T *d, char *key)
+{
+  dictitem_T *di = dict_find(d, (uint8_t *)key, -1);
+
+  if (di == NULL) {
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  
+  if (di->di_tv.v_type != VAR_FUNC && di->di_tv.v_type != VAR_STRING) {
+    EMSG(_("Argument is not a function or function name"));
+    return NULL;
+  }
+
+  uint8_t *name = di->di_tv.vval.v_string;
+  name = trans_function_name(&name, false, TFN_INT|TFN_QUIET, NULL);
+  ufunc_T *rv = find_func(name);
+  free(name);
+  if (!rv) {
+    EMSG2(_("Function %s doesn't exist"), name);
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  rv->uf_refcount++;
+
+  return rv;
+}
+
 /*
  * Get a string item from a dictionary.
  * When "save" is TRUE allocate memory for it.
@@ -6500,7 +6530,7 @@ static struct fst {
   {"items",           1, 1, f_items},
   {"jobresize",       3, 3, f_jobresize},
   {"jobsend",         2, 2, f_jobsend},
-  {"jobstart",        2, 4, f_jobstart},
+  {"jobstart",        1, 2, f_jobstart},
   {"jobstop",         1, 1, f_jobstop},
   {"join",            1, 2, f_join},
   {"keys",            1, 1, f_keys},
@@ -6920,24 +6950,9 @@ call_func (
         else if ((fp->uf_flags & FC_DICT) && selfdict == NULL)
           error = ERROR_DICT;
         else {
-          /*
-           * Call the user function.
-           * Save and restore search patterns, script variables and
-           * redo buffer.
-           */
-          save_search_patterns();
-          saveRedobuff();
-          ++fp->uf_calls;
-          call_user_func(fp, argcount, argvars, rettv,
-              firstline, lastline,
+          // Call the user function.
+          call_user_func(fp, argcount, argvars, rettv, firstline, lastline,
               (fp->uf_flags & FC_DICT) ? selfdict : NULL);
-          if (--fp->uf_calls <= 0 && isdigit(*fp->uf_name)
-              && fp->uf_refcount <= 0)
-            /* Function was unreferenced while being used, free it
-             * now. */
-            func_free(fp);
-          restoreRedobuff();
-          restore_search_patterns();
           error = ERROR_NONE;
         }
       }
@@ -10714,11 +10729,6 @@ static void f_jobresize(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
 // "jobstart()" function
 static void f_jobstart(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
 {
-  list_T *args = NULL;
-  listitem_T *arg;
-  int i, argvl, argsl;
-  char **argv = NULL;
-
   rettv->v_type = VAR_NUMBER;
   rettv->vval.v_number = 0;
 
@@ -10726,55 +10736,62 @@ static void f_jobstart(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
     return;
   }
 
-  if (argvars[0].v_type != VAR_STRING
-      || argvars[1].v_type != VAR_STRING
-      || (argvars[2].v_type != VAR_LIST && argvars[2].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)) {
+  if (argvars[0].v_type != VAR_LIST
+      || (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_DICT && argvars[1].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)) {
     // Wrong argument types
     EMSG(_(e_invarg));
     return;
   }
 
-  argsl = 0;
-  if (argvars[2].v_type == VAR_LIST) {
-    args = argvars[2].vval.v_list;
-    argsl = args->lv_len;
-    // Assert that all list items are strings
-    for (arg = args->lv_first; arg != NULL; arg = arg->li_next) {
-      if (arg->li_tv.v_type != VAR_STRING) {
-        EMSG(_(e_invarg));
-        return;
-      }
+  list_T *args = argvars[0].vval.v_list;
+  // Assert that all list items are strings
+  for (listitem_T *arg = args->lv_first; arg != NULL; arg = arg->li_next) {
+    if (arg->li_tv.v_type != VAR_STRING) {
+      EMSG(_(e_invarg));
+      return;
     }
   }
 
-  if (!os_can_exe(get_tv_string(&argvars[1]), NULL)) {
-    // String is not executable
-    EMSG2(e_jobexe, get_tv_string(&argvars[1]));
+  int argc = args->lv_len;
+  if (!argc) {
+    EMSG(_("Argument vector must have at least one item"));
     return;
   }
 
-  // Allocate extra memory for the argument vector and the NULL pointer
-  argvl = argsl + 2;
-  argv = xmalloc(sizeof(char_u *) * argvl);
-
-  // Copy program name
-  argv[0] = xstrdup((char *)get_tv_string(&argvars[1]));
+  if (!os_can_exe(args->lv_first->li_tv.vval.v_string, NULL)) {
+    // String is not executable
+    EMSG2(e_jobexe, args->lv_first->li_tv.vval.v_string);
+    return;
+  }
 
-  i = 1;
-  // Copy arguments to the vector
-  if (argsl > 0) {
-    for (arg = args->lv_first; arg != NULL; arg = arg->li_next) {
-      argv[i++] = xstrdup((char *)get_tv_string(&arg->li_tv));
+  typval_T user;
+  init_tv(&user);
+  dict_T *job_opts = NULL;
+  ufunc_T *on_stdout = NULL, *on_stderr = NULL, *on_exit = NULL;
+  if (argvars[1].v_type == VAR_DICT) {
+    job_opts = argvars[1].vval.v_dict;
+    common_job_callbacks(job_opts, &on_stdout, &on_stderr, &on_exit, &user);
+    if (did_emsg) {
+      return;
     }
   }
 
-  // The last item of argv must be NULL
-  argv[i] = NULL;
-  JobOptions opts = common_job_options(argv, (char *)argvars[0].vval.v_string);
+  // Build the argument vector
+  int i = 0;
+  char **argv = xcalloc(argc + 1, sizeof(char *));
+  for (listitem_T *arg = args->lv_first; arg != NULL; arg = arg->li_next) {
+    argv[i++] = xstrdup((char *)arg->li_tv.vval.v_string);
+  }
+
+  JobOptions opts = common_job_options(argv, on_stdout, on_stderr, on_exit,
+      user);
 
-  if (args && argvars[3].v_type == VAR_DICT) {
-    dict_T *job_opts = argvars[3].vval.v_dict;
-    opts.pty = true;
+  if (!job_opts) {
+    goto start;
+  }
+
+  opts.pty = get_dict_number(job_opts, (uint8_t *)"pty");
+  if (opts.pty) {
     uint16_t width = get_dict_number(job_opts, (uint8_t *)"width");
     if (width > 0) {
       opts.width = width;
@@ -10789,6 +10806,16 @@ static void f_jobstart(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
     }
   }
 
+start:
+  if (!on_stdout) {
+    opts.stdout_cb = NULL;
+  }
+  if (!on_stderr) {
+    opts.stderr_cb = NULL;
+  }
+  if (!on_exit) {
+    opts.exit_cb = NULL;
+  }
   common_job_start(opts, rettv);
 }
 
@@ -14890,15 +14917,26 @@ static void f_termopen(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
   }
 
   if (argvars[0].v_type != VAR_STRING
-      || (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_STRING
-        && argvars[1].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)) {
+      || (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_DICT && argvars[1].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)) {
     // Wrong argument types
     EMSG(_(e_invarg));
     return;
   }
 
+  typval_T user;
+  init_tv(&user);
+  ufunc_T *on_stdout = NULL, *on_stderr = NULL, *on_exit = NULL;
+  if (argvars[1].v_type == VAR_DICT) {
+    dict_T *job_opts = argvars[1].vval.v_dict;
+    common_job_callbacks(job_opts, &on_stdout, &on_stderr, &on_exit, &user);
+    if (did_emsg) {
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
   char **argv = shell_build_argv((char *)argvars[0].vval.v_string, NULL);
-  JobOptions opts = common_job_options(argv, NULL);
+  JobOptions opts = common_job_options(argv, on_stdout, on_stderr, on_exit,
+      user);
   opts.pty = true;
   opts.width = curwin->w_width;
   opts.height = curwin->w_height;
@@ -14930,7 +14968,6 @@ static void f_termopen(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
   snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "term://%s//%d:%s", cwd, pid,
       (char *)argvars[0].vval.v_string);
   (void)setfname(curbuf, (uint8_t *)buf, NULL, true);
-  data->autocmd_file = xstrdup(buf);
   // Save the job id and pid in b:terminal_job_{id,pid}
   Error err;
   dict_set_value(curbuf->b_vars, cstr_as_string("term_job_id"),
@@ -17836,7 +17873,6 @@ void ex_function(exarg_T *eap)
       fudi.fd_di->di_tv.v_type = VAR_FUNC;
       fudi.fd_di->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
       fudi.fd_di->di_tv.vval.v_string = vim_strsave(name);
-      fp->uf_refcount = 1;
 
       /* behave like "dict" was used */
       flags |= FC_DICT;
@@ -17846,6 +17882,7 @@ void ex_function(exarg_T *eap)
     STRCPY(fp->uf_name, name);
     hash_add(&func_hashtab, UF2HIKEY(fp));
   }
+  fp->uf_refcount = 1;
   fp->uf_args = newargs;
   fp->uf_lines = newlines;
   fp->uf_tml_count = NULL;
@@ -18519,6 +18556,11 @@ void ex_delfunction(exarg_T *eap)
       EMSG2(_("E131: Cannot delete function %s: It is in use"), eap->arg);
       return;
     }
+    if (fp->uf_refcount > 1) {
+      EMSG2(_("Cannot delete function %s: It is being used internally"),
+          eap->arg);
+      return;
+    }
 
     if (fudi.fd_dict != NULL) {
       /* Delete the dict item that refers to the function, it will
@@ -18563,13 +18605,21 @@ void func_unref(char_u *name)
 
   if (name != NULL && isdigit(*name)) {
     fp = find_func(name);
-    if (fp == NULL)
+    if (fp == NULL) {
       EMSG2(_(e_intern2), "func_unref()");
-    else if (--fp->uf_refcount <= 0) {
-      /* Only delete it when it's not being used.  Otherwise it's done
-       * when "uf_calls" becomes zero. */
-      if (fp->uf_calls == 0)
-        func_free(fp);
+    } else {
+      user_func_unref(fp);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+static void user_func_unref(ufunc_T *fp)
+{
+  if (--fp->uf_refcount <= 0) {
+    // Only delete it when it's not being used.  Otherwise it's done
+    // when "uf_calls" becomes zero.
+    if (fp->uf_calls == 0) {
+      func_free(fp);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -18626,9 +18676,13 @@ call_user_func (
     return;
   }
   ++depth;
-
-  line_breakcheck();            /* check for CTRL-C hit */
-
+  // Save search patterns and redo buffer.
+  save_search_patterns();
+  saveRedobuff();
+  ++fp->uf_calls;
+  // check for CTRL-C hit
+  line_breakcheck();
+  // prepare the funccall_T structure
   fc = xmalloc(sizeof(funccall_T));
   fc->caller = current_funccal;
   current_funccal = fc;
@@ -18924,6 +18978,14 @@ call_user_func (
     for (li = fc->l_varlist.lv_first; li != NULL; li = li->li_next)
       copy_tv(&li->li_tv, &li->li_tv);
   }
+
+  if (--fp->uf_calls <= 0 && isdigit(*fp->uf_name) && fp->uf_refcount <= 0) {
+    // Function was unreferenced while being used, free it now.
+    func_free(fp);
+  }
+  // restore search patterns and redo buffer
+  restoreRedobuff();
+  restore_search_patterns();
 }
 
 /*
@@ -19814,12 +19876,14 @@ char_u *do_string_sub(char_u *str, char_u *pat, char_u *sub, char_u *flags)
   return ret;
 }
 
-static inline JobOptions common_job_options(char **argv, char *autocmd_file)
+static inline JobOptions common_job_options(char **argv, ufunc_T *on_stdout,
+    ufunc_T *on_stderr, ufunc_T *on_exit, typval_T user)
 {
   TerminalJobData *data = xcalloc(1, sizeof(TerminalJobData));
-  if (autocmd_file) {
-    data->autocmd_file = xstrdup(autocmd_file);
-  }
+  data->on_stdout = on_stdout;
+  data->on_stderr = on_stderr;
+  data->on_exit = on_exit;
+  data->user = user;
   JobOptions opts = JOB_OPTIONS_INIT;
   opts.argv = argv;
   opts.data = data;
@@ -19829,6 +19893,25 @@ static inline JobOptions common_job_options(char **argv, char *autocmd_file)
   return opts;
 }
 
+static inline void common_job_callbacks(dict_T *vopts, ufunc_T **on_stdout,
+    ufunc_T **on_stderr, ufunc_T **on_exit, typval_T *user)
+{
+  *on_stdout = get_dict_callback(vopts, "on_stdout");
+  *on_stderr = get_dict_callback(vopts, "on_stderr");
+  *on_exit = get_dict_callback(vopts, "on_exit");
+  if (did_emsg) {
+    return;
+  }
+  dictitem_T *di = dict_find(vopts, (uint8_t *)"user", -1);
+  if (di != NULL) {
+    copy_tv(&di->di_tv, user);
+  } else {
+    user->v_type = VAR_NUMBER;
+    user->v_lock = 0;
+    user->vval.v_number = 0;
+  }
+}
+
 static inline Job *common_job_start(JobOptions opts, typval_T *rettv)
 {
   TerminalJobData *data = opts.data;
@@ -19839,8 +19922,7 @@ static inline Job *common_job_start(JobOptions opts, typval_T *rettv)
     if (rettv->vval.v_number == 0) {
       EMSG(_(e_jobtblfull));
       free(opts.term_name);
-      free(data->autocmd_file);
-      free(data);
+      free_term_job_data(data);
     } else {
       EMSG(_(e_jobexe));
     }
@@ -19850,10 +19932,23 @@ static inline Job *common_job_start(JobOptions opts, typval_T *rettv)
   return job;
 }
 
-// JobActivity autocommands will execute vimscript code, so it must be executed
-// on Nvim main loop
-static inline void push_job_event(Job *job, char *type, char *data,
-    size_t count)
+static inline void free_term_job_data(TerminalJobData *data) {
+  if (data->on_stdout) {
+    user_func_unref(data->on_stdout);
+  }
+  if (data->on_stderr) {
+    user_func_unref(data->on_stderr);
+  }
+  if (data->on_exit) {
+    user_func_unref(data->on_exit);
+  }
+  clear_tv(&data->user);
+  free(data);
+}
+
+// vimscript job callbacks must be executed on Nvim main loop
+static inline void push_job_event(Job *job, ufunc_T *callback,
+    const char *type, char *data, size_t count, int status)
 {
   JobEvent *event_data = kmp_alloc(JobEventPool, job_event_pool);
   event_data->received = NULL;
@@ -19880,10 +19975,12 @@ static inline void push_job_event(Job *job, char *type, char *data,
       off++;
     }
     list_append_string(event_data->received, (uint8_t *)ptr, off);
+  } else {
+    event_data->status = status;
   }
-  TerminalJobData *d = job_data(job);
-  event_data->id = job_id(job);
-  event_data->name = d->autocmd_file;
+  event_data->job_id = job_id(job);
+  event_data->data = job_data(job);
+  event_data->callback = callback;
   event_data->type = type;
   event_push((Event) {
     .handler = on_job_event,
@@ -19891,17 +19988,20 @@ static inline void push_job_event(Job *job, char *type, char *data,
   }, true);
 }
 
-static void on_job_stdout(RStream *rstream, void *data, bool eof)
+static void on_job_stdout(RStream *rstream, void *job, bool eof)
 {
-  on_job_output(rstream, data, eof, "stdout");
+  TerminalJobData *data = job_data(job);
+  on_job_output(rstream, job, eof, data->on_stdout, "stdout");
 }
 
-static void on_job_stderr(RStream *rstream, void *data, bool eof)
+static void on_job_stderr(RStream *rstream, void *job, bool eof)
 {
-  on_job_output(rstream, data, eof, "stderr");
+  TerminalJobData *data = job_data(job);
+  on_job_output(rstream, job, eof, data->on_stderr, "stderr");
 }
 
-static void on_job_output(RStream *rstream, Job *job, bool eof, char *type)
+static void on_job_output(RStream *rstream, Job *job, bool eof,
+    ufunc_T *callback, const char *type)
 {
   if (eof) {
     return;
@@ -19917,21 +20017,28 @@ static void on_job_output(RStream *rstream, Job *job, bool eof, char *type)
     terminal_receive(data->term, ptr, len);
   }
 
-  push_job_event(job, type, ptr, len);
+  if (callback) {
+    push_job_event(job, callback, type, ptr, len, 0);
+  }
+
   rbuffer_consumed(rstream_buffer(rstream), len);
 }
 
-static void on_job_exit(Job *job, void *d)
+static void on_job_exit(Job *job, int status, void *d)
 {
   TerminalJobData *data = d;
-  push_job_event(job, "exit", NULL, 0);
 
   if (data->term && !data->exited) {
     data->exited = true;
     terminal_close(data->term,
         _("\r\n[Program exited, press any key to close]"));
   }
-  term_job_data_decref(data);
+
+  if (data->on_exit) {
+    push_job_event(job, data->on_exit, "exit", NULL, 0, status);
+  } else {
+    term_job_data_decref(data);
+  }
 }
 
 static void term_write(char *buf, size_t size, void *data)
@@ -19960,42 +20067,55 @@ static void term_close(void *d)
 static void term_job_data_decref(TerminalJobData *data)
 {
   if (!(--data->refcount)) {
-    free(data);
+    free_term_job_data(data);
   }
 }
 
 static void on_job_event(Event event)
 {
-  JobEvent *data = event.data;
-  apply_job_autocmds(data->id, data->name, data->type, data->received);
-  kmp_free(JobEventPool, job_event_pool, data);
-}
+  JobEvent *ev = event.data;
+  typval_T argv[4];
+  int argc = ev->callback->uf_args.ga_len;
 
-static void apply_job_autocmds(int id, char *name, char *type,
-                               list_T *received)
-{
-  // Create the list which will be set to v:job_data
-  list_T *list = list_alloc();
-  list_append_number(list, id);
-  list_append_string(list, (uint8_t *)type, -1);
+  if (argc > 0) {
+    argv[0].v_type = VAR_NUMBER;
+    argv[0].v_lock = 0;
+    argv[0].vval.v_number = ev->job_id;
+  }
+
+  if (argc > 1) {
+    if (ev->received) {
+      argv[1].v_type = VAR_LIST;
+      argv[1].v_lock = 0;
+      argv[1].vval.v_list = ev->received;
+      argv[1].vval.v_list->lv_refcount++;
+    } else {
+      argv[1].v_type = VAR_NUMBER;
+      argv[1].v_lock = 0;
+      argv[1].vval.v_number = ev->status;
+    }
+  }
 
-  if (received) {
-    listitem_T *str_slot = listitem_alloc();
-    str_slot->li_tv.v_type = VAR_LIST;
-    str_slot->li_tv.v_lock = 0;
-    str_slot->li_tv.vval.v_list = received;
-    str_slot->li_tv.vval.v_list->lv_refcount++;
-    list_append(list, str_slot);
+  if (argc > 2) {
+    argv[2] = ev->data->user;
   }
 
-  // Update v:job_data for the autocommands
-  set_vim_var_list(VV_JOB_DATA, list);
-  // Call JobActivity autocommands
-  apply_autocmds(EVENT_JOBACTIVITY, (uint8_t *)name, NULL, TRUE, NULL);
+  if (argc > 3) {
+    argv[3].v_type = VAR_STRING;
+    argv[3].v_lock = 0;
+    argv[3].vval.v_string = (uint8_t *)ev->type;
+  }
 
-  if (!received) {
-    // This must be the exit event. Free the name.
-    free(name);
+  typval_T rettv;
+  init_tv(&rettv);
+  call_user_func(ev->callback, argc, argv, &rettv, curwin->w_cursor.lnum,
+      curwin->w_cursor.lnum, NULL);
+  clear_tv(&rettv);
+  kmp_free(JobEventPool, job_event_pool, ev);
+
+  if (!ev->received) {
+    // exit event, safe to free job data now
+    term_job_data_decref(ev->data);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/nvim/eval.h b/src/nvim/eval.h
index e96106dfb33b19..61a65df7c6fdea 100644
--- a/src/nvim/eval.h
+++ b/src/nvim/eval.h
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ enum {
     VV_OLDFILES,
     VV_WINDOWID,
     VV_PROGPATH,
-    VV_JOB_DATA,
     VV_COMMAND_OUTPUT,
     VV_LEN, /* number of v: vars */
 };
diff --git a/src/nvim/fileio.c b/src/nvim/fileio.c
index 0c0b786405d176..923c4fd1b65a4f 100644
--- a/src/nvim/fileio.c
+++ b/src/nvim/fileio.c
@@ -5187,7 +5187,6 @@ static struct event_name {
   {"InsertEnter",     EVENT_INSERTENTER},
   {"InsertLeave",     EVENT_INSERTLEAVE},
   {"InsertCharPre",   EVENT_INSERTCHARPRE},
-  {"JobActivity",     EVENT_JOBACTIVITY},
   {"MenuPopup",       EVENT_MENUPOPUP},
   {"QuickFixCmdPost", EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPOST},
   {"QuickFixCmdPre",  EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPRE},
@@ -6595,7 +6594,6 @@ apply_autocmds_group (
         || event == EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPRE
         || event == EVENT_COLORSCHEME
         || event == EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPOST
-        || event == EVENT_JOBACTIVITY
         || event == EVENT_TABCLOSED)
       fname = vim_strsave(fname);
     else
diff --git a/src/nvim/fileio.h b/src/nvim/fileio.h
index 6241cabd2aeff4..b77e2311fcf1c5 100644
--- a/src/nvim/fileio.h
+++ b/src/nvim/fileio.h
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ typedef enum auto_event {
   EVENT_INSERTCHANGE,           /* when changing Insert/Replace mode */
   EVENT_INSERTENTER,            /* when entering Insert mode */
   EVENT_INSERTLEAVE,            /* when leaving Insert mode */
-  EVENT_JOBACTIVITY,            /* when job sent some data */
   EVENT_MENUPOPUP,              /* just before popup menu is displayed */
   EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPOST,        /* after :make, :grep etc. */
   EVENT_QUICKFIXCMDPRE,         /* before :make, :grep etc. */
diff --git a/src/nvim/main.c b/src/nvim/main.c
index 1e5c2df3946198..732c6c1351d616 100644
--- a/src/nvim/main.c
+++ b/src/nvim/main.c
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       "matchstr(expand(\"<amatch>\"), "
       "'\\c\\mterm://\\%(.\\{-}//\\%(\\d\\+:\\)\\?\\)\\?\\zs.*'), "
       // capture the working directory
-      "get(matchlist(expand(\"<amatch>\"), "
-      "'\\c\\mterm://\\(.\\{-}\\)//'), 1, ''))");
+      "{'cwd': get(matchlist(expand(\"<amatch>\"), "
+      "'\\c\\mterm://\\(.\\{-}\\)//'), 1, ''))}");
 
   /* Execute --cmd arguments. */
   exe_pre_commands(&params);
diff --git a/src/nvim/msgpack_rpc/channel.c b/src/nvim/msgpack_rpc/channel.c
index 00b8cd072f427e..329b898824bed0 100644
--- a/src/nvim/msgpack_rpc/channel.c
+++ b/src/nvim/msgpack_rpc/channel.c
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ static void job_err(RStream *rstream, void *data, bool eof)
   }
 }
 
-static void job_exit(Job *job, void *data)
+static void job_exit(Job *job, int status, void *data)
 {
   decref(data);
 }
diff --git a/src/nvim/os/job_defs.h b/src/nvim/os/job_defs.h
index ac9a37b366ff17..200cf75e5914d9 100644
--- a/src/nvim/os/job_defs.h
+++ b/src/nvim/os/job_defs.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ typedef struct job Job;
 ///
 /// @param id The job id
 /// @param data Some data associated with the job by the caller
-typedef void (*job_exit_cb)(Job *job, void *data);
+typedef void (*job_exit_cb)(Job *job, int status, void *data);
 
 // Job startup options
 // job_exit_cb Callback that will be invoked when the job exits
diff --git a/src/nvim/os/job_private.h b/src/nvim/os/job_private.h
index b1d5e13feb7b48..af13d2e63604d4 100644
--- a/src/nvim/os/job_private.h
+++ b/src/nvim/os/job_private.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static inline void job_exit_callback(Job *job)
 
   if (job->opts.exit_cb) {
     // Invoke the exit callback
-    job->opts.exit_cb(job, job->opts.data);
+    job->opts.exit_cb(job, job->status, job->opts.data);
   }
 
   if (stop_requests && !--stop_requests) {
diff --git a/test/functional/job/job_spec.lua b/test/functional/job/job_spec.lua
index 8981c497448099..ca91804cc112ef 100644
--- a/test/functional/job/job_spec.lua
+++ b/test/functional/job/job_spec.lua
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 
 local helpers = require('test.functional.helpers')
-local clear, nvim, eq, neq, ok, expect, eval, next_message, run, stop, session
+local clear, nvim, eq, neq, ok, expect, eval, next_msg, run, stop, session
   = helpers.clear, helpers.nvim, helpers.eq, helpers.neq, helpers.ok,
   helpers.expect, helpers.eval, helpers.next_message, helpers.run,
   helpers.stop, helpers.session
 local nvim_dir, insert = helpers.nvim_dir, helpers.insert
+local source = helpers.source
 
 
 describe('jobs', function()
@@ -13,46 +14,42 @@ describe('jobs', function()
   before_each(function()
     clear()
     channel = nvim('get_api_info')[1]
+    nvim('set_var', 'channel', channel)
+    source([[
+    function! s:OnEvent(id, data, user, event)
+      call rpcnotify(g:channel, a:event, a:user, a:data)
+    endfunction
+    let g:job_opts = {
+    \ 'on_stdout': function('s:OnEvent'),
+    \ 'on_stderr': function('s:OnEvent'),
+    \ 'on_exit': function('s:OnEvent')
+    \ }
+    ]])
   end)
 
-  -- Creates the string to make an autocmd to notify us.
-  local notify_str = function(expr1, expr2)
-    local str = "au! JobActivity xxx call rpcnotify("..channel..", "..expr1
-    if expr2 ~= nil then
-      str = str..", "..expr2
-    end
-    return str..")"
-  end
-
-  local notify_job = function()
-    return "au! JobActivity xxx call rpcnotify("..channel..", 'j', v:job_data)"
-  end
-
   it('returns 0 when it fails to start', function()
-    local status, rv = pcall(eval, "jobstart('', '')")
+    local status, rv = pcall(eval, "jobstart([])")
     eq(false, status)
     ok(rv ~= nil)
   end)
 
-  it('calls JobActivity when the job writes and exits', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]'))
-    nvim('command', "call jobstart('xxx', 'echo')")
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {}}, next_message())
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {}}, next_message())
+  it('invokes callbacks when the job writes and exits', function()
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'', ''}}}, next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   it('allows interactive commands', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     neq(0, eval('j'))
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, "abc\\n")')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'abc', ''}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'abc', ''}}}, next_msg())
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, "123\\nxyz\\n")')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'123', 'xyz', ''}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'123', 'xyz', ''}}}, next_msg())
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, [123, "xyz", ""])')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'123', 'xyz', ''}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'123', 'xyz', ''}}}, next_msg())
     nvim('command', "call jobstop(j)")
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   it('preserves NULs', function()
@@ -63,90 +60,126 @@ describe('jobs', function()
     file:close()
 
     -- v:job_data preserves NULs.
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['"..filename.."'])")
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'abc\ndef', ''}}}, next_message())
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0}}, next_message())
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '"..filename.."'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'abc\ndef', ''}}}, next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
     os.remove(filename)
 
     -- jobsend() preserves NULs.
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     nvim('command', [[call jobsend(j, ["123\n456",""])]])
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'123\n456', ''}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'123\n456', ''}}}, next_msg())
     nvim('command', "call jobstop(j)")
   end)
 
   it('will not buffer data if it doesnt end in newlines', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, "abc\\nxyz")')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'abc', 'xyz'}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'abc', 'xyz'}}}, next_msg())
     nvim('command', "call jobstop(j)")
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   it('can preserve newlines', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, "a\\n\\nc\\n\\n\\n\\nb\\n\\n")')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'a', '', 'c', '', '', '', 'b', '', ''}}},
-      next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout',
+      {0, {'a', '', 'c', '', '', '', 'b', '', ''}}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   it('can preserve nuls', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, ["\n123\n", "abc\\nxyz\n", ""])')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'\n123\n', 'abc\nxyz\n', ''}}},
-      next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'\n123\n', 'abc\nxyz\n', ''}}},
+      next_msg())
     nvim('command', "call jobstop(j)")
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   it('can avoid sending final newline', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     nvim('command', 'call jobsend(j, ["some data", "without\nfinal nl"])')
-    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{'some data', 'without\nfinal nl'}}},
-      next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {0, {'some data', 'without\nfinal nl'}}},
+      next_msg())
     nvim('command', "call jobstop(j)")
-    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {0, 0}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
-
   it('will not allow jobsend/stop on a non-existent job', function()
     eq(false, pcall(eval, "jobsend(-1, 'lol')"))
     eq(false, pcall(eval, "jobstop(-1)"))
   end)
 
   it('will not allow jobstop twice on the same job', function()
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     neq(0, eval('j'))
     eq(true, pcall(eval, "jobstop(j)"))
     eq(false, pcall(eval, "jobstop(j)"))
   end)
 
   it('will not cause a memory leak if we leave a job running', function()
-    nvim('command', "call jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
+  end)
+
+  it('can pass numbers as user data', function()
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = 5')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {5, {'', ''}}}, next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {5, 0}}, next_msg())
+  end)
+
+  it('can pass strings as user data', function()
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = "str"')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {'str', {'', ''}}}, next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {'str', 0}}, next_msg())
+  end)
+
+  it('can pass references as user data', function()
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = {"some": [0, "user data"]}')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {{some = {0, 'user data'}}, {'', ''}}},
+      next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {{some = {0, 'user data'}}, 0}}, next_msg())
+  end)
+
+  it('can omit data callbacks', function()
+    nvim('command', 'unlet g:job_opts.on_stdout')
+    nvim('command', 'unlet g:job_opts.on_stderr')
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = 5')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {5, 0}}, next_msg())
+  end)
+
+  it('can omit exit callback', function()
+    nvim('command', 'unlet g:job_opts.on_exit')
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = 5')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart(['echo'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'stdout', {5, {'', ''}}}, next_msg())
+  end)
+
+  it('will pass return code with the exit event', function()
+    nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.user = 5')
+    nvim('command', "call jobstart([&sh, '-c', 'return 55'], g:job_opts)")
+    eq({'notification', 'exit', {5, 55}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   -- FIXME need to wait until jobsend succeeds before calling jobstop
   pending('will only emit the "exit" event after "stdout" and "stderr"', function()
-    nvim('command', notify_job())
-    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', 'cat', ['-'])")
+    nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(['cat', '-'], g:job_opts)")
     local jobid = nvim('eval', 'j')
     nvim('eval', 'jobsend(j, "abcdef")')
     nvim('eval', 'jobstop(j)')
-    eq({'notification', 'j', {{jobid, 'stdout', {'abcdef'}}}}, next_message())
-    eq({'notification', 'j', {{jobid, 'exit'}}}, next_message())
+    eq({'notification', 'j', {0, {jobid, 'stdout', {'abcdef'}}}}, next_msg())
+    eq({'notification', 'j', {0, {jobid, 'exit'}}}, next_msg())
   end)
 
   describe('running tty-test program', function()
     local function next_chunk()
       local rv = ''
       while true do
-        local msg = next_message()
-        local data = msg[3][1]
+        local msg = next_msg()
+        local data = msg[3][2]
         for i = 1, #data do
           data[i] = data[i]:gsub('\n', '\000')
         end
@@ -166,9 +199,9 @@ describe('jobs', function()
     before_each(function() 
       -- the full path to tty-test seems to be required when running on travis.
       insert(nvim_dir .. '/tty-test')
-      nvim('command', 'let exec = expand("<cfile>:p")')
-      nvim('command', notify_str('v:job_data[1]', 'get(v:job_data, 2)'))
-      nvim('command', "let j = jobstart('xxx', exec, [], {})")
+      nvim('command', 'let g:job_opts.pty = 1')
+      nvim('command', 'let exec = [expand("<cfile>:p")]')
+      nvim('command', "let j = jobstart(exec, g:job_opts)")
       eq('tty ready', next_chunk())
     end)