[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7608-7609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2338]


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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. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the ``Report on Current Employment Statistics.'' 
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 of this notice on or before April 8, 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 Current Employment Statistics (CES) program provides current 
monthly statistics on employment, hours, and earnings, by industry and 
geography. CES estimates are among the most visible and widely-used 
Principal Federal Economic Indicators (PFEIs). CES data also are among 
the timeliest of the PFEIs, with their release each month by the BLS in 
the Employment Situation, typically on the first Friday of each month. 
The statistics are fundamental inputs in economic decision processes at 
all levels of government, private enterprise, and organized labor.
    The CES monthly estimates of employment, hours, and earnings are 
based on a sample of U.S. nonagricultural establishments. Information 
is derived from approximately 260,000 reports (representing about 
150,000 Unemployment Insurance (UI) accounts and 390,000 individual 
worksites), as of January 2008. Each month, firms report their 
employment, payroll, and hours on forms identified as the BLS-790. The 
sample is collected under a probability based design. Puerto Rico and 
the Virgin Islands collect an additional 4,800 reports using a quota 
sample.
    A list of all form types currently used is listed below in the 
Desired Focus of Comments section of this notice. Respondents receive 
variations of the basic collection forms, depending on their industry. 
The BLS is requesting approval through February 29, 2011.
    The CES program is a voluntary program under Federal statute (29 
U.S.C. 2). Reporting to the State agencies is voluntary in all but four 
States (Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina), Puerto 
Rico, and the Virgin Islands. To our knowledge, the States that do have 
mandatory reporting rarely exercise their authority. The collection 
form's confidentiality statement cites the Confidential Information 
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 and mentions the 
State mandatory reporting authority.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Report on Current Employment Statistics.
    Automated data collection methods are now used for most of the CES 
sample. Approximately 115,000 reports are received through Electronic 
Data Interchange and 56,100 reports are collected using Computer 
Assisted Telephone Interviewing, as of January 2008. Touchtone Data 
Entry is the third largest mode, accounting for 37,100 reports. In 
comparison, only 4,300 reports are collected by mail. Fax also is a 
significant collection mode, as 16,200 reports are collected via this 
method.
    Web collection is rapidly increasing in importance as approximately 
14,200 reports were collected as of January 2008. The balance of the 
sample is collected through other automated methods, including 
submission of tapes, diskettes, and e-mail.
    The BLS has decided to significantly increase the use of Web for 
CES data collection. Web when compared to Touchtone Data Entry has 
higher response rates. The BLS also has decided to stop research on fax 
optical character recognition collection due to cost and technical 
considerations. Instead, firms are offered the opportunity to submit an 
Excel file in a standard format through the BLS Web site.

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,

[[Page 7609]]

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.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Report on Current Employment Statistics.
    OMB Number: 1220-0011.
    Affected Public: State or local governments; businesses or other 
for-profit; non-profit institutions; small businesses or organizations.

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                                                                                                        Annual
                      Form                         Reports    Minutes per   Frequency      Annual       burden
                                                                 report    of response   responses      hours
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A--Natural Resources and Mining................        1,400           11           12       16,800        3,080
B--Construction................................       11,900           11           12      142,800       26,180
C--Manufacturing...............................       12,600           11           12      151,200       27,720
E--Service Providing Industries................      169,600           11           12    2,035,200      373,120
G--Public Administration.......................       43,300            6           12      519,600       51,960
S--Education...................................        9,100            6           12      109,200       10,920
Private Fax form...............................       16,100           11           12      193,200       35,420
Public Administration Fax Form.................          300            6           12        3,600          360
Education Fax Form.............................          400            6           12        4,800          480
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    Total......................................      264,700  ...........  ...........    3,176,400      529,240
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    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 4th day of February 2008.
Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 [FR Doc. E8-2338 Filed 2-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P