[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3700-3701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1748]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


National Employers Survey (NES)--Follow-up

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental

[[Page 3701]]

Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Michael Hartz, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Room 
2538, FB 3, EPCD, Washington, DC 20233-6100; (301-457-2633).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducted three National Employers Surveys (1994, 
1995, and 1997) for the National Center on the Educational Quality of 
the Workforce, a nonprofit research group. This group's focus is 
discovering relationships among employment, hiring, training, 
education, and business success. This information collection seeks to 
build upon the results of the previous surveys.
    This information collection seeks to gather information 
specifically on employers' school-to-work programs. The collection will 
relate these findings to similar information collected from employers 
in the 1997 National Employers Survey (NES-3). The purpose is to 
measure change, or lack of it, in the scope and prevalence of these 
programs. We will use the follow-up data to assess changes from the 
1997 NES on three major measures: the number of businesses 
participating in school-to-work that offer work-based learning slots; 
the number of school-to-work businesses that provide remedial 
education; and recruitment costs of school-to-work businesses.
    This new survey will be a telephone survey of approximately 1,000 
establishments that participated in the NES-3.

II. Method of Collection

    The Bureau of the Census will conduct the NES Follow-up survey via 
telephone. The information will be recorded on paper and later coded 
into a computer database. The interview will include about 40 
questions, most of which will not require the respondent to refer to 
any records, and will require about 10 minutes to complete.
    The survey will be conducted of approximately 1,000 establishments 
with more than 20 employees, chosen through a stratified, random-
sampling method. Confidentiality of the survey data is guaranteed by 
Title 13, United States Code. After the Census Bureau performs data 
keying and consistency editing, the data set will be provided to sworn 
Census agents representing the survey sponsor.
    A high participation rate for employers is usually crucial for 
statistically reliable data in this type of survey. The survey sponsor 
has discussed the survey issues with selected respondents from the NES-
3. It is the sponsor's opinion that the business establishments they 
contacted were quite interested in the survey issues and that most will 
strongly consider participating in the survey. The businesses indicated 
that their decision to participate in a survey was primarily based on 
their perception of the usefulness of the requested information and the 
businesses are very interested in the issues of the survey. Several 
respondents (employers) told the sponsor that they wanted the results 
of the survey. Based on these factors (and especially the employers 
concerns about these workplace issues), we expect a high rate of the 
employers from the NES-3 to participate in the Follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0787.
    Form Number: NES Follow-up telephone interview.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Business establishments with 20 or more employees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to the respondent 
other than the time required to complete the interview.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: United States Code, Title 13, sections 8 and 9.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 20, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-1748 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P