Notice2024-00839
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 18, 2024
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentLabor Statistics Bureau
Abstract
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 extension of the "Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Program". 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3432-3433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00839]
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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 extension of the ``Local Area
Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Program''. 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 of this notice on or before March 18, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225,
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also
may be transmitted by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a383629252a283b252a0f181613193a181609541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c1e100f030c0e1d030c293e30353f1c3e302f723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, at
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The BLS has been charged by Congress (29 U.S.C. 1 and 2) with the
responsibility of collecting and publishing monthly information on
employment, the average wage received, and the hours worked by area and
industry. The process for developing residency-based employment and
unemployment estimates is a cooperative Federal-State program which
uses employment and unemployment inputs available in State Workforce
Agencies.
The labor force estimates developed and issued in this program are
used for economic analysis and as a tool in the implementation of
Federal economic policy in such areas as employment and economic
development under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
(that supplanted the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) and the Public
Works and Economic Development Act, among others.
The estimates are also used in economic analysis by public agencies
and private industry, and for State and area funding allocations and
eligibility determinations according to legal and administrative
requirements. Implementation of current policy and legislative
authorities could not be accomplished without collection of the data.
The reports and manual covered by this request are integral parts
of the LAUS program insofar as they ensure and measure the timeliness,
quality, consistency, and adherence to program directions of the LAUS
estimates and related research.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for an
extension of the information collection request that makes up the LAUS
program. All aspects of the information collection are conducted
electronically. All data are entered directly into BLS-provided
systems.
The BLS, as part of its responsibility to develop concepts and
methods by which States prepare estimates under the LAUS program,
developed a manual for use by the States. The manual explains the
conceptual framework for the State and area estimates of employment and
unemployment, specifies the procedures to be used, provides input
information, and discusses the theoretical and empirical
[[Page 3433]]
basis for each procedure. This manual is updated on a regular schedule.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in
comments that:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information continues to 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.
<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.
Title of Collection: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
Program.
OMB Number: 1220-0017.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: State governments.
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Average Estimated
Total time per total
Number of respondents Frequency responses response burden
(hours) (hours)
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LAUS 8.............................. 52.................... 11 572 1 572
LAUS 15............................. 6..................... 1 6 2 12
LAUS 16............................. 52.................... 1 52 1 52
LAUS 3040........................... 52 respondents (with 13 98,904 1.5 148,356
7,608 reporting
units).
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Totals.......................... ...................... ........... 99,543 ........... 148,992
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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 January 10, 2024.
Eric Molina,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Branch of Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2024-00839 Filed 1-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
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