[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70569-70570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27970]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for O*NET Data 
Collection Program, Extension of Currently Approved Collection With 
Minor Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)] (PRA). The PRA helps ensure that 
respondents can provide requested data in the desired format with 
minimal reporting burden (time and financial resources), collection 
instruments are clearly understood and the impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the O*NET (Occupational 
Information Network) Data Collection Program (expires June 30, 2015). A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice or by accessing: http://www.onetcenter.org/ombclearance.html

DATES: Submit written comments to the office listed in the addresses 
section below on or before January 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lauren Fairley Wright, Division of 
National Programs, Tools and Technical Assistance, Room C4526, 
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-
693-3731 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or 
speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by 
calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-
5627 (TTY/TDD). Fax: 202-693-3015. Email: [email protected]. To 
obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), you 
may email the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The O*NET Data Collection Program is an ongoing effort to collect 
and maintain current information on the detailed characteristics of 
occupations and skills for more than 900 occupations. The resulting 
database provides the most comprehensive standardized source of 
occupational and skills information in the nation. O*NET information is 
used by a wide range of audiences, including individuals making career 
decisions, public agencies and schools providing career exploration 
services or education and training programs, and businesses making 
staffing and training decisions. The O*NET system provides a common 
language, framework and database to meet the administrative needs of 
various federal programs, including workforce investment and training 
programs supported by funding from the Departments of Labor, Education, 
and Health and Human Services.
    Section 308 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
requires the Secretary of Labor to oversee the ``development, 
maintenance, and continuous improvement of a nationwide workforce and 
labor market information system'' which shall include, among other 
components, ``skill trends by occupation and industry.'' The O*NET 
database provides:
    [ssquf] Detailed information for more than 900 occupations.
    [ssquf] Descriptive information using standardized descriptors for 
skills, abilities, interests, knowledge, work values, education, 
training, work context, and work activities.
    [ssquf] Occupational coding based on the 2010 Standard Occupational 
Classification (SOC) system.
    Several minor questionnaire changes for the Knowledge Questionnaire 
and the Background Questionnaire are pending in this submission. These 
changes are described in detail in Appendix A of the proposed 
Information Collection Request. These changes do not represent an 
increase in respondent burden.
    The O*NET electronic database and related O*NET products and tools 
have

[[Page 70570]]

been incorporated into numerous public and private sector products and 
resources, summarized at http://www.onetcenter.org/paw.html. These 
products in turn serve millions of customers.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor 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.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension with minor revisions.
    Title: O*NET Data Collection Program.
    OMB Number: 1205-0421.
    Affected Public: private sector (for-profit businesses and not-for-
profit organizations); state, local and tribal governments; federal 
government; individuals.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 28,866.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 28,866.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,537.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: 0.
    We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of 
the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-27970 Filed 11-25-14; 8:45 am]
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