[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 67394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23639]



[[Page 67394]]

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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 reinstatement with change of the ``Contingent Worker 
Supplement (CWS) to the Current Population Survey (CPS),'' to be 
conducted in May 2017.
    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 November 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written also may be 
transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll-free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government 
statistics on employment and unemployment since 1940 (over 75 years). 
Collection of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the 
requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 and 2. The 
2017 CWS will provide information on the characteristics of workers in 
contingent jobs--that is, jobs that are structured to last only a 
limited period of time. The CWS will also provide information about 
workers in several alternative employment arrangements, including 
independent contractors, on-call workers, temporary help agency 
workers, and workers provided by contract companies. With the exception 
of February 2003, the CWS was fielded every two years from 1995 to 
2005; however, since then, there have been no reliable and comparable 
statistics to show how the number and characteristics of these workers 
have changed over time. In order to maintain data comparability, the 
2017 CWS questionnaire will be largely the same as that used in 2005. 
However, because new types of work have emerged since the last 
collection of the CWS, BLS is proposing to add four new questions to 
the end of the CWS. These new questions will explore whether 
individuals obtain customers or online tasks through companies that 
electronically match them, often through mobile apps, and examine 
whether work obtained through electronic matching platforms is a source 
of secondary earnings.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS) to the CPS. A reinstatement with 
change of this previously approved collection for which approval has 
expired is needed to provide the Nation with timely information about 
the number and characteristics of workers in contingent or alternative 
employment arrangements. Because new types of work have emerged since 
the last fielding of the CWS, BLS is proposing to add four new 
questions. Specifically, two questions will focus on whether 
individuals obtain customers or online tasks through mobile apps. Such 
jobs include people using their own cars to drive customers from one 
place to another, delivering something, or doing customers' household 
tasks or errands, as well as online tasks such as data entry, 
translating text, web or software development, or graphic design. In 
addition, two questions will examine whether work obtained through 
electronic matching platforms is a source of secondary earnings.

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.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Contingent Worker Supplement to the CPS.
    OMB Number: 1220-0153.
    Affected Public: Households.
    Total Respondents: 47,000.
    Frequency: One time.
    Total Responses: 47,000.
    Average Time per Response: 9 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7050 hours.
    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 26th day of September, 2016.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2016-23639 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-24-P