[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43733-43734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20621]


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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 
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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before October 12, 1999. 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer. 
(See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Proposed Collection

    Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ``Displaced 
Workers, Job Tenure, and Occupational Mobility Supplement to the 
Current Population Survey (CPS).'' A copy of the proposed information 
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual

[[Page 43734]]

listed in the Addresses section of this notice.

II. Background

    The February 2000 Displaced Workers, Job Tenure, and Occupational 
Mobility Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) is sponsored 
by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA). This supplement previously was conducted in conjunction with the 
February 1998 CPS and has been conducted biennially since 1984. 
Additional data on occupational mobility will be collected in the 
February 2000 supplement.
    The information will be used to determine the size and nature of 
the population affected by job displacements and, hence, the needs and 
scope of programs serving adult displaced workers. The information 
collected also will be used to assess employment stability by 
determining the length of time workers have been with their current 
employer and estimating the incidence of occupational change over the 
course of a year. In addition, data on job tenure for all workers are 
needed to calculate the incidence of displacement among various worker 
groups so that comparisons can be made over time and among different 
affected groups. Combining the questions on displacement, job tenure, 
and occupational mobility will enable analysts to obtain a more 
complete picture of employment stability.

III. Current Actions

    The questions concerning displacement among workers will help 
define the size of the readjustment problem faced by individual workers 
and the economy including: (a) Workers who have lost their jobs or have 
received notice that they soon will lose their jobs due to a permanent 
plant closing; (b) laid-off workers who are unlikely to return to their 
previous industry or occupation; and (c) the long-term unemployed with 
little prospect of reemployment. Policy planning has to take into 
account the industries with the most severe displacement problem and 
the retraining needs of affected workers.
    This supplement also will provide data regarding:
    1. The economic impact of job displacements. For those workers who 
have been reemployed, data will be collected to compare current 
earnings with those from the lost job.
    2. Information on the receipt of unemployment compensation, the 
loss of health insurance coverage, and the time spent without a job. In 
combination, these supplemental data will provide the information 
needed to assess the economic hardship experienced by displaced 
workers.
    3. The types of jobs that displaced workers have been able to find. 
This will assist in developing training programs that will provide 
other displaced workers with the skills necessary to adjust to the 
changing economic environment.
    4. The extent to which displaced workers received advance notice of 
job cutbacks or the closing of their plant or business. The President, 
Congress, and private organizations have shown significant interest in 
this area.
    5. The length of time workers (including those who have not been 
displaced) have been with their current employer. Tenure data are used 
to calculate displacement rates for long-tenured workers so that 
comparisons can be made over time and among different worker groups. 
Information on job tenure also is important because of the effect 
seniority has on wage levels, the receipt of employee benefits such as 
vacations and pensions, and other facets of the employment 
relationship.
    6. The incidence and nature of occupational changes in the year 
prior to the survey. Such information is useful in assessing the 
training and educational needs of the workforce.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved 
collection for which approval has expired.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Displaced Worker, Job Tenure, and Occupational Mobility 
Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS).
    OMB Number: 1220-0104.
    Affected public: Households.
    Total Respondents: 48,000.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Total Responses: 48,000.
    Average Time Per Response: 9 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7,200 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, DC, this 5th day of August, 1999.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 99-20621 Filed 8-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M