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[Federal Register: February 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 33)]
[Notices]               
[Page 10748-10749]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe01-124]                         

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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 
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 revision of the 
``Report on Occupational Employment.'' A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
individual listed 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 April 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, telephone number 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance 
Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a Federal/
State establishment survey of wage and salary workers designed to 
produce data on current occupational employment and wages. OES survey 
data assist in the development of employment and training programs 
established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Job Training 
Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982, and the Perkins Vocational Education 
Act of 1984.
    The OES program operates a periodic mail survey of a sample of non-
farm establishments conducted by all fifty States, Guam, Puerto Rico, 
the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. Over three-year 
periods, data on occupational employment and wages are collected by 
industry at the two- and three-digit Standard Industrial Classification 
(SIC) levels. The U.S. Department of Labor also uses OES data in the 
administration of the Alien Labor Certification process under the 
Immigration Act of 1990.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:

[[Page 10749]]

    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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.

III. Current Actions

    The BLS plans to make several changes to the processes and 
procedures used to collect data in the OES program.
    We plan to evaluate whether the number of different survey forms 
used in the OES survey (currently 82 different forms) can be reduced 
when the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 
introduced in the 2002 OES program (October 12, November 12, and 
December 12, 2002 reference dates). The evaluation will take place 
after the results of the 2002 survey staffing patterns have been 
examined.
    The current survey reference period is a single quarter. In order 
to more properly reflect the annual average employment and wages, 
consideration is being given to using two or more quarters as reference 
periods. (The OES sample size would not be increased with a change to 
multiple reference periods.)
    Together with our State partners, the BLS is exploring tailoring 
the mail questionnaire to specific respondents in order to reduce 
respondent burden. This customization could include using a reduced 
occupation list on the form to make the list specific for the intended 
establishment.
    Currently, the front of the survey form solicits information on 
industry, operating status, total number of workers, and contact person 
for the establishment. In the past, the OES program asked for the total 
number of employees working in Research and Development. In this 
proposed revision, the BLS is requesting the flexibility to replace 
such questions with question(s) that may assist in the evaluation of 
changes in workforce dynamics, such as the introduction of new 
technologies (e.g., e-commerce).
    The BLS and the States plan to test, and implement if the test is 
successful, collection of OES data by electronic means, including using 
the Internet.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Report on Occupational Employment.
    OMB Number: 1220-0042.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 317,492.
    Average Time Per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 238,119.
    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 12th day of February 2001.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 01-3992 Filed 2-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P

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