[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24137-24138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11469]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed revision of the ``National Longitudinal Survey 
of Youth 1979 (NLSY79).'' A copy of the proposed information collection 
request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below 
in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before July 1, 1997.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth79 (NLSY79) has been 
conducted since 1979. It consists of a nationally representative sample 
of individuals who were age 14 to 21 in 1979. The cohort members were 
interviewed annually from 1979 to 1994. After the 1994 interview, the 
survey was moved to a biennial cycle.
    The data collected by the NLSY79 will contribute to the knowledge 
about labor market processes involved in transitions between jobs, job 
searches, and hierarchies within jobs. Survey data will contribute to 
the knowledge about individuals' ability to succeed in the job market 
and how levels of success relate to educational attainment, vocational 
training, prior occupational experiences, and general and job-specific 
experiences.
    The NLSY79 research contributes to the formation of national policy 
in the areas of education, training and employment programs, and 
unemployment compensation. In addition, members of the academic 
community publish articles and reports based on these NLSY79 data for 
the Department of Labor (DOL) and other funding agencies. The DOL uses 
the changes measured in the labor market to design programs that would 
ease employment and unemployment problems. The survey design provides 
data gathered over time to form the only data set that contains this 
information. Without the collection of these data, an

[[Page 24138]]

accurate longitudinal data set could not be provided to researchers and 
policy-makers, and the DOL could not perform its policy- and report-
making activities, as described above.

II. Current Actions

    The 1998 NLSY79 will document work experience, labor force 
attachment, participation in educational or training programs, 
financial situations, health status and health benefits. It will 
continue to gather detailed work history information along with 
information about family background and ongoing demographic events.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: National Longitudinal Survey of Youth79.
    OMB Number: 1220-0109.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 8,650.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Total Responses: 8,650.
    Average Time Per Response: 100.7 Minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 14,512 Hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 28th day of April, 1997.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-11469 Filed 5-1-97; 8:45 am]
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