[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67716-67717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24385]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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. 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 revision of the ``Report on 
Occupational Employment and Wages.'' A copy of the proposed information 
collection request 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 January 9, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by email to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey is a 
Federal/State establishment survey of wage and salary workers designed 
to produce data on current detailed occupational employment and wages 
for each Metropolitan Statistical Area and Metropolitan Division as 
well as by detailed industry classification. OEWS survey data assist in 
the development of employment and training programs established by the 
Perkins Vocational Education Act and the Wagner-Peyser Act.
    The OEWS program operates a periodic mail survey of a sample of 
non-farm establishments conducted by all fifty States, the District of 
Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Over three-
year periods, data on occupational employment and wages are collected 
by industry at the four- and five-digit North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) levels. The Department of Labor uses OES 
data in the administration of the Foreign Labor Certification process 
under the Immigration Act of 1990.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
OEWS program. Occupational employment data obtained by the OEWS survey 
are used to develop information regarding current and projected 
employment needs and job opportunities. These data assist in the 
development of State vocational education plans. OEWS wage data provide 
a significant source of information to support a number of different 
Federal, State, and local efforts.
    With the release of the May 2021 OEWS estimates in March 2022, the 
OEWS program implemented a new model-based estimation methodology 
(MB3). The MB3 methodology uses modeling to predict the staffing 
pattern and wages for every non-observed establishment on the OEWS 
population frame using observed OEWS survey response data along with 
current data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program. 
This differs from the older design-based methodology that used 
weighting and imputation to make the OEWS response data represent the 
OEWS population frame. Research and testing indicated the accuracy and 
reliability of the MB3 estimates improved over the former approach.
    As part of an ongoing effort to reduce respondent burden, OEWS has 
several electronic submission options which are available to 
respondents. Respondents have the ability to submit data by email, or 
fillable online forms. In many cases, a respondent can submit existing 
payroll records and would not need to submit a survey form.

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.
    Title of Collection: Report on Occupational Employment and Wages.
    OMB Number: 1220-0042.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, Federal Government, State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 255,965.
    Frequency: Semi-annually.
    Total Responses: 255,965.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 127,982.

[[Page 67717]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $00.00.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $00.00.
    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, on November 2, 2022.
Eric Molina,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2022-24385 Filed 11-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P