[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73379-73380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24995]


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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 ``Current Population Survey 
(CPS).'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 
can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section below on or before February 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202-691-7628. (This 
is not a toll-free number.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government 
statistics on employment and unemployment for over 60 years. The labor 
force information gathered through the survey is of paramount 
importance in keeping track of the economic health of the Nation. The 
survey is the only source of monthly data on total employment and 
unemployment, with the Employment Situation report containing data from 
this survey being a Primary Federal Economic Indicator (PFEI). 
Moreover, the survey also yields data on the basic status and 
characteristics of persons not in the labor force. The CPS data are 
used monthly, in conjunction with data from other sources, to analyze 
the extent to which, and with what success, the various components of 
the American population are participating in the economic life of the 
Nation.
    The labor force data gathered through the CPS are provided to users 
in the greatest detail possible, in conjunction with the demographic 
information obtained in the survey. In brief, the labor force data can 
be broken down by sex, age, race and ethnic origin, marital status, 
family composition, educational level, and other characteristics. 
Beginning in 2009, a breakdown by disability status will also be 
possible. Through such breakdowns, one can focus on the employment 
situation of specific population groups as well as on general trends in 
employment and unemployment. Information of this type can be obtained 
only through demographically oriented surveys such as the CPS.
    The basic CPS data also are used as an important platform on which 
to base the data derived from the various supplemental questions that 
are administered in conjunction with the survey. By coupling the basic 
data from the monthly survey with the special data from the 
supplements, one can get valuable insights on the behavior of American 
workers and on the social and economic health of their families.
    There is wide interest in the monthly CPS data among Government 
policymakers, legislators, economists, the media, and the general 
public. While the data from the CPS are used in conjunction with data 
from other surveys in assessing the economic health of the Nation, they 
are unique in various ways. Specifically, they are the basis for much 
of the monthly Employment Situation report, a PFEI. They provide a 
monthly, nationally representative measure of total employment, 
including farm work, self-employment and unpaid family work; other 
surveys are generally restricted to the nonagricultural wage and salary 
sector, or provide less timely

[[Page 73380]]

information. The CPS provides data on all jobseekers, and on all 
persons outside the labor force, while payroll-based surveys cannot, by 
definition, cover these sectors of the population. Finally, the CPS 
data on employment, unemployment, and on persons not in the labor force 
can be linked to the demographic characteristics of the many groups 
that make up the Nation's population, while the data from most other 
surveys are devoid of demographic information. Many groups, both in the 
government and in the private sector, are eager to analyze this wealth 
of demographic and labor force data for the populations of persons with 
and without disabilities.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Current Population Survey (CPS). Questions are being added to the 
instrument in June 2008 to gather information on disability status of 
household members. The new questions ask if anyone in the household is 
deaf or has a serious difficulty hearing; if anyone is blind or has 
serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses; if anyone has 
serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions 
because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition; if anyone has 
serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; if anyone has difficulty 
dressing or bathing; and if anyone has difficulty doing errands alone 
such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping because of a physical, 
mental, or emotional condition. When an affirmative answer is received, 
a follow up question is asked to determine which of the household 
members is/are affected. These new questions may be used in conjunction 
with the other demographic and labor force data collected in the CPS to 
examine the characteristics of the population of persons with 
disabilities and to make comparisons to the population of persons 
without disabilities and other groups.
    These six new questions will be asked of all households in June 
2008 to generate baseline data and will thereafter be asked only of 
households in months 1 and 5 of the interview cycle and of replacement 
households. Because of the initial June collection, burden hours will 
be higher in 2008 than in later years. In 2008, total burden for the 
labor force section of the CPS will be 84,000 hours (of which 7,000 
hours are for the disability questions.) In 2009 and 2010, burden will 
fall to 82,600 hours (of which 5,600 hours are for the disability 
questions.)

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     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.
     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.
    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.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Current Population Survey (CPS).
    OMB Number: 1220-0100.
    Affected Public: Households.
    Total Respondents: 55,000 per month.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Total Responses: 660,000.
    Average Time per Response: 7.6 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 84,000 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 19th day of December, 2007.
Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 [FR Doc. E7-24995 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P