[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10748-10749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3992]
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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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the
``Report on Occupational Employment.'' A copy of the proposed
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the
individual listed in the Addresses section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
Addresses section of this notice on or before April 17, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255,
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, telephone number
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance
Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (See Addresses section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a Federal/
State establishment survey of wage and salary workers designed to
produce data on current occupational employment and wages. OES survey
data assist in the development of employment and training programs
established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Job Training
Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982, and the Perkins Vocational Education
Act of 1984.
The OES program operates a periodic mail survey of a sample of non-
farm establishments conducted by all fifty States, Guam, Puerto Rico,
the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. Over three-year
periods, data on occupational employment and wages are collected by
industry at the two- and three-digit Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) levels. The U.S. Department of Labor also uses OES data in the
administration of the Alien Labor Certification process under the
Immigration Act of 1990.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in
comments which:
[[Page 10749]]
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.
III. Current Actions
The BLS plans to make several changes to the processes and
procedures used to collect data in the OES program.
We plan to evaluate whether the number of different survey forms
used in the OES survey (currently 82 different forms) can be reduced
when the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is
introduced in the 2002 OES program (October 12, November 12, and
December 12, 2002 reference dates). The evaluation will take place
after the results of the 2002 survey staffing patterns have been
examined.
The current survey reference period is a single quarter. In order
to more properly reflect the annual average employment and wages,
consideration is being given to using two or more quarters as reference
periods. (The OES sample size would not be increased with a change to
multiple reference periods.)
Together with our State partners, the BLS is exploring tailoring
the mail questionnaire to specific respondents in order to reduce
respondent burden. This customization could include using a reduced
occupation list on the form to make the list specific for the intended
establishment.
Currently, the front of the survey form solicits information on
industry, operating status, total number of workers, and contact person
for the establishment. In the past, the OES program asked for the total
number of employees working in Research and Development. In this
proposed revision, the BLS is requesting the flexibility to replace
such questions with question(s) that may assist in the evaluation of
changes in workforce dynamics, such as the introduction of new
technologies (e.g., e-commerce).
The BLS and the States plan to test, and implement if the test is
successful, collection of OES data by electronic means, including using
the Internet.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Report on Occupational Employment.
OMB Number: 1220-0042.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit
institutions; and State, Local or Tribal Government.
Frequency: Annual.
Total Responses: 317,492.
Average Time Per Response: 45 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 238,119.
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 12th day of February 2001.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 01-3992 Filed 2-15-01; 8:45 am]
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