[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77640-77641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27407]


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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 ``Occupational 
Requirements Survey.'' 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 February 17, 2023.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is a nationwide survey 
that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is conducting at the request 
of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Three years of data 
collection and capture for the ORS will start in 2023 and end in mid-
2026. Estimates produced from the data collected by the ORS will be 
considered by the SSA to update occupational requirements data used in 
administering the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
    The ORS occupational information will allow SSA adjudicators to 
associate the assessment of a claimant's physical and mental functional 
capacity and vocational profile with work requirements. BLS will 
compute percentages of workers with various characteristics, such as 
skill and strength level. SSA will use this information to provide 
statistical support for the medical-vocational rules used during the 
assessment process regarding the number of jobs that exist at each 
occupational requirement level in the national economy.
    The Social Security Administration, Members of Congress, and 
representatives of the disability community have all identified 
collection of updated information on the requirements of work in 
today's economy as crucial to the equitable and efficient operation of 
the Social Security Disability (SSDI) program.
    The ORS collects data from a sample of employers. Collected work 
data consist of occupational task lists, defined as the critical job 
function and key job tasks, to validate the reported requirements of 
work.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Occupational Requirements Survey.
    The ORS collects data on the requirements of work, as defined by 
the SSA's disability program:
    (1) Education, Training and Experience, measures include an 
indicator of ``time to proficiency,'' defined as the amount of time 
required by a typical worker to learn the techniques, acquire the 
information, and develop the facility needed for average job 
performance. This indicator is comparable to the Specific Vocational 
Preparation (SVP) used in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT).
    (2) Physical Demands, characteristics/factors of occupations, 
measured in such a way to support SSA disability determination needs. 
These measures are comparable to measures in Appendix C of the Selected 
Characteristics of Occupations (SCO).
    (3) Environmental Conditions, measured in such a way to support SSA 
disability determination needs, comparable to measures in Appendix D of 
the SCO.
    (4) Mental and Cognitive Demands, measures include work setting, 
review, pace, in addition to personal contacts.
    The ORS also collects the following supporting data to validate 
reported requirements:
     Occupational task lists, defined as the critical job 
function and key job tasks, to validate the reported requirements of 
work. These task lists are comparable to data identified in the 
Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Occupational Information 
Network (O*NET) Program.
    BLS is seeking approval to increase the ORS sample size to mitigate 
the impact of non-response on survey estimates and ensure sufficient 
data are collected, to support the final ORS estimates. Changes in 
survey questions and materials to increase survey efficiency and 
improve estimates are also included in this request.
    BLS will disseminate the data from the ORS on the BLS public 
website (www.bls.gov/ors). The design uses a five-year rotation with 
complete estimates published after the full sample has been collected 
in July 2028 with final estimates published no later than the second 
quarter of FY 2029. Interim results will be produced and disseminated 
on an annual basis.
    ORS collection uses several forms for private industry and 
government collection. Only one form version is used per interview 
based on what best meets an individual field economist's note taking 
needs for a given interview.
    ORS data are defined to balance SSA's adjudication needs with the 
ability of the respondent to provide data. With this clearance, BLS is 
continuing collection of existing data.

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.

[[Page 77641]]

     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: Occupational Requirements Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0189.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, local, and tribal government.

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                                                                                          Average
                                                                       Respondents     responses per   Total number of  Average minutes    Total hours
                                                                                            year          responses
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    Total Average..................................................          12,449             1.00           12,449           65.735           13,639
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                            Collection Forms
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                                 List form Nos.           Name form
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Occupational Requirements     ORS Form 15-1P, ORS   Establishment and
 Survey (Private Industry      Form 4PPD-4P, ORS     Collection Forms
 sample).                      Form 4 PPD-4PF, ORS   for Private
                               Form 4 PPD-4PAF.      Industry.
Occupational Requirements     ORS Form 15-1G, ORS   Establishment and
 Survey (State and local       Form 4PPD-4G, ORS     Collection Forms
 government sample).           Form 4 PPD-4GF, ORS   for Governments.
                               Form 4 PPD-4GAF.
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    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 December 13, 2022.
Eric Molina,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2022-27407 Filed 12-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P