Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[03/12/2007]
Volume 72, Number 47, Page 11058-11059
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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
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995
[[Page 11059]]
(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. Currently, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed
extension of the ``Current Population Survey (CPS).'' 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.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
ADDRESSES section below on or before May 11, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080,
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202-691-7628. (This
is not a toll-free number.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer,
202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government
statistics on employment and unemployment for over 60 years. The labor
force information gathered through the survey is of paramount
importance in keeping track of the economic health of the Nation. The
survey is the only source of data on total employment and unemployment,
with the monthly unemployment rate obtained through this survey being
regarded as one of the most important economic indicators. Moreover,
the survey also yields data on the basic status and characteristics of
persons not in the labor force. The CPS data are used monthly, in
conjunction with data from other sources, to analyze the extent to
which the various components of the American population are
participating in the economic life of the Nation and with what success.
The labor force data gathered through the CPS are provided to users
in the greatest detail possible, consistent with the demographic
information obtained in the survey. In brief, the labor force data can
be broken down by sex, age, race and ethnic origin, marital status,
family composition, educational level, and other characteristics.
Through such breakdowns, one can focus on the employment situation of
specific population groups as well as on the general trends in
employment and unemployment. Information of this type can be obtained
only through demographically oriented surveys such as the CPS.
The basic CPS data also are used as an important platform on which
to base the data derived from the various supplemental questions that
are administered in conjunction with the survey. By coupling the basic
data from the monthly survey with the special data from the
supplements, one can get valuable insights on the behavior of American
workers and on the social and economic health of their families.
There is wide interest in the monthly CPS data among Government
policymakers, legislators, economists, the media, and the general
public. While the data from the CPS are used in conjunction with data
from other surveys in assessing the economic health of the Nation, they
are unique in various ways. They provide a measurement of total
employment, including farm work, self-employment and unpaid family
work, while the other surveys are generally restricted to the
nonagricultural wage and salary sector. The CPS provides data on all
jobseekers, and on all persons outside the labor force, while payroll-
based surveys cannot, by definition, cover these sectors of the
population. Finally, the CPS data on employment, unemployment, and on
persons not in the labor force can be linked to the demographic
characteristics of the many groups that make up the Nation's
population, while the data from other surveys are usually devoid of
demographic information.
II. 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.
III. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the
Current Population Survey (CPS).
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Current Population Survey (CPS).
OMB Number: 1220-0100.
Affected Public: Households.
Total Respondents: 55,000 per month.
Frequency: Monthly.
Total Responses: 660,000.
Average Time Per Response: 7 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 77,000 hours.
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 7th day of March 2007.
Mark Staniorski,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
[FR Doc. E7-4330 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
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