[Federal Register: August 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 166)] [Notices] [Page 46958-46959] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27au99-95] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed collection; comment request ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before October 26, 1999. The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer. (See ADDRESSES section.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Proposed Collection The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed new collection of the ``Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. II. Background The JOLTS will provide data on job vacancies, labor hires, and labor separations. The data can be used as demand-side indicators of labor shortages. These indicators of labor shortages at the national level would greatly enhance policy makers' understanding of imbalances between the demand and supply of labor. Presently there is no economic indicator of the demand for labor with which to assess the presence of labor shortages in the U.S. labor market. The availability of unfilled jobs (the number of job vacancies or the vacancy rate) is an important measure of tightness of job markets, parallel to existing measures of unemployment. JOLTS statistics will reveal structural labor market conditions, such as the effectiveness of job matching and training processes, implications of unemployment insurance and welfare, and deficient demand for labor. JOLTS statistics can be used for the following purposes: As an indicator of business cycles and their causes and consequences; As a basic economic indicator of growth, productivity and welfare; As a tool for considering the implications of unemployment policy, labor market policy; and As an indicator of inflation and wage growth. The ratio of the unemployment rate to the vacancy rate can be a very powerful indicator and reveal important information about how to effectively manage unemployment. As recently as 1998, Robert M. Solow in Proceedings of the British Academy noted that, ``. . . national unemployment counts exist almost everywhere, whereas vacancy statistics are quite rare.'' [[Page 46959]] III. Current Actions The information will be collected once a month using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and Touch-tone Data Entry (TDE). An establishment will be included in the sample for 18 consecutive months. During the first six months of data collection, the interviewer will call the respondent and conduct the interviews over the telephone using CATI. During these interviews, the interviewer will prepare the respondent for transition to TDE. The data for the establishment's final twelve months in the sample will be collected via TDE. The following data elements will be collected: Total Employment; Total Number of Job Openings; Total Hires; Quits; Layoffs and Discharges; and Other Separations. The reference period for the data are the pay period including the 12th of the month for Total Employment, the last business day of the month for Job Openings, and the entire month for Hires and Separations. The information will be published monthly by combined North American Industry Classification System sector, at the National level and total non-agriculture level, by Census region. The data will be made public via press release and on the BLS Web site. Type of Review: New collection. Agency: The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Title: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. OMB Number: BLS-1411. Affected Public: Federal Government; State or local governments; Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Small businesses or organizations. Total Respondents:: 16,000. Frequency: Monthly. Total Responses: 111,440 (annual average). Average Time Per Response: 6 minutes. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 11,144 (annual average). 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 ICR; they also will become a matter of public record. Signed at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of August 1999. Karen A. Krein, Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistic. [FR Doc. 99-22336 Filed 8-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-24-M