Federal Register: February 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 27)
DOCID: fr08fe08-95 FR Doc E8-2338
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Labor Statistics Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr08fe08-95
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Proposed Collection, Comment Request
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before April 8, 2008.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 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 extension of the ``Report on Current Employment Statistics.'' 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.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Background
The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program provides current monthly statistics on employment, hours, and earnings, by industry and geography. CES estimates are among the most visible and widelyused Principal Federal Economic Indicators (PFEIs). CES data also are among the timeliest of the PFEIs, with their release each month by the BLS in the Employment Situation, typically on the first Friday of each month. The statistics are fundamental inputs in economic decision processes at all levels of government, private enterprise, and organized labor.
The CES monthly estimates of employment, hours, and earnings are based on a sample of U.S. nonagricultural establishments. Information is derived from approximately 260,000 reports (representing about 150,000 Unemployment Insurance (UI) accounts and 390,000 individual worksites), as of January 2008. Each month, firms report their employment, payroll, and hours on forms identified as the BLS790. The sample is collected under a probability based design. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands collect an additional 4,800 reports using a quota sample.
A list of all form types currently used is listed below in the Desired Focus of Comments section of this notice. Respondents receive variations of the basic collection forms, depending on their industry. The BLS is requesting approval through February 29, 2011.
The CES program is a voluntary program under Federal statute (29 U.S.C. 2). Reporting to the State agencies is voluntary in all but four States (Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. To our knowledge, the States that do have mandatory reporting rarely exercise their authority. The collection form's confidentiality statement cites the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 and mentions the State mandatory reporting authority.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the Report on Current Employment Statistics.
Automated data collection methods are now used for most of the CES sample. Approximately 115,000 reports are received through Electronic Data Interchange and 56,100 reports are collected using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing, as of January 2008. Touchtone Data Entry is the third largest mode, accounting for 37,100 reports. In comparison, only 4,300 reports are collected by mail. Fax also is a significant collection mode, as 16,200 reports are collected via this method.
Web collection is rapidly increasing in importance as approximately 14,200 reports were collected as of January 2008. The balance of the sample is collected through other automated methods, including submission of tapes, diskettes, and email.
The BLS has decided to significantly increase the use of Web for CES data collection. Web when compared to Touchtone Data Entry has higher response rates. The BLS also has decided to stop research on fax optical character recognition collection due to cost and technical considerations. Instead, firms are offered the opportunity to submit an Excel file in a standard format through the BLS Web site.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in comments that:
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including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Report on Current Employment Statistics.
OMB Number: 12200011.
Affected Public: State or local governments; businesses or other forprofit; nonprofit institutions; small businesses or organizations. Annual Form Reports Minutes per Frequency Annual burden report of response responses hours ANatural Resources and Mining................ 1,400 11 12 16,800 3,080 BConstruction................................ 11,900 11 12 142,800 26,180 CManufacturing............................... 12,600 11 12 151,200 27,720 EService Providing Industries................ 169,600 11 12 2,035,200 373,120 GPublic Administration....................... 43,300 6 12 519,600 51,960 SEducation................................... 9,100 6 12 109,200 10,920 Private Fax form............................... 16,100 11 12 193,200 35,420 Public Administration Fax Form................. 300 6 12 3,600 360 Education Fax Form............................. 400 6 12 4,800 480
Total...................................... 264,700 ........... ........... 3,176,400 529,240
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 4th day of February 2008. Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics. [FR Doc. E82338 Filed 2708; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451024P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 2026917628. (See ADDRESSES section.)