[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12934-12935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5302]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of

[[Page 12935]]

information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Current Population Survey, Basic Demographic Items.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0049.
    Form Number(s): CPS-263, CPS-263(SP), CPS-264, CPS-264(SP), CPS-
266, BC-1428, BC-1428(SP), BC-1433, BC-1433(SP), CPS-692, CPS-504.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 18,013.
    Number of Respondents: 59,000.
    Average Hours Per Response: 1.5 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The purpose of this request for review is for the 
U.S. Census Bureau to obtain clearance from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for the collection of basic demographic information on 
the Current Population Survey (CPS).
    The CPS has been the source of official government statistics on 
employment and unemployment for over 50 years. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau jointly sponsor the basic 
monthly survey, and the Census Bureau prepares and conducts all the 
field work. The Census Bureau provides the BLS with data files and 
tables. The BLS seasonally adjusts, analyzes, and publishes the results 
for the labor force data in conjunction with the demographic 
characteristics. In accordance with the OMB's request, the Census 
Bureau and the BLS divide the clearance request in order to reflect the 
joint sponsorship and funding of the CPS program. Title 29, United 
States Code, Sections 1-9, authorizes the collection of labor force 
data in the CPS.
    The demographic information provides a unique set of data on 
selected characteristics for the civilian noninstitutional population. 
Some of the demographic information we collect is age, marital status, 
gender, Armed Forces status, education, race, origin, and family 
income. We use these data in conjunction with other data, particularly 
the monthly labor force data, as well as periodic supplement data. We 
also use these data independently for internal analytic research and 
for evaluation of other surveys. In addition, we need these data to 
correctly control estimates of other characteristics to the proper 
proportions of age, gender, race, and origin.
    The demographic questions relating to origin and race within the 
CPS will undergo minor wording changes beginning in January 2012. These 
wording changes are being done to bring the CPS origin and race 
questions more in alignment with those in the American Community 
Survey. These changes were not mentioned in the Federal Register Notice 
published December 16, 2010, which requested public comment on the 
information collection. However, since the changes do not affect the 
meaning or purpose of the questions, nor will they affect the resulting 
information provided to data users, their absence from the Federal 
Register should not disrupt the clearance process.
    We use the data from the CPS on household size and composition, 
age, education, ethnicity, and marital status to compile monthly 
averages or other aggregates for national and sub-national estimates. 
We use these data in four principal ways: in association with other 
data, such as monthly labor force or periodic supplement publications; 
for internal analytic research; for evaluation of other surveys and 
survey results; and as a general purpose sample and survey.
    The demographic data are central to the publication of all labor 
force data in the BLS' monthly report Employment and Earnings. The data 
set that results from combining the monthly labor force data with the 
demographic data provides analysts with the ability to understand labor 
force patterns of many subpopulation groups. This is particularly 
important since the federal government often directs initiatives at 
special groups that historically have not conformed to general labor 
force participation patterns.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141, 181, 
and 182 and Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1-9.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: March 4, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5302 Filed 3-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P