Notice2025-19132
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
October 1, 2025
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 "Occupational Requirements Survey." A copy of the proposed information collection request 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 90 Issue 188 (Wednesday, October 1, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 188 (Wednesday, October 1, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47345-47346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19132]
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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 ``Occupational
Requirements Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection
request 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 December 1, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b595748444b495a444b6e797772785b797768357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bc9c7d8d4dbd9cad4dbfee9e7e2e8cbe9e7f8a5ece4fd">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
at 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses
section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is a nationwide survey
that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is conducting at the request
of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Three years of data
collection and capture for the ORS will start in 2026 and end in mid-
2029.
Estimates produced from the data collected by the ORS will be
considered by the SSA to update occupational requirements data used in
administering the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
The ORS occupational information will allow SSA adjudicators to
associate the assessment of a claimant's physical and mental functional
capacity and vocational profile with work requirements. BLS will
compute percentages of workers with various characteristics, such as
skill and strength level. SSA will use this information to provide
statistical support for the medical-vocational rules used during the
assessment process regarding the number of jobs that exist at each
occupational requirement level in the national economy.
The Social Security Administration, Members of Congress, and
representatives of the disability community have all identified
collection of updated information on the requirements of work in
today's economy as crucial to the equitable and efficient operation of
the Social Security Disability (SSDI) program.
The ORS collects data from a sample of employers. Collected work
data consist of occupational task lists, defined as the critical job
function and key job tasks, to validate the reported requirements of
work.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the
Occupational Requirements Survey.
The ORS collects data on the requirements of work, as defined by
the SSA's disability program:
(1) Education, Training and Experience, measures include an
indicator of ``time to proficiency,'' defined as the minimum amount of
preparation time required by a typical worker to learn the techniques,
acquire the information, and develop the aptitude needed for
performance in a specific job. This indicator is comparable to the
Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) used in the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles (DOT).
(2) Physical Demands, characteristics/factors of occupations,
measured in such a way to support SSA disability determination needs.
These measures are comparable to measures in Appendix C of the Selected
Characteristics of Occupations (SCO).
(3) Environmental Conditions, measured in such a way to support SSA
disability determination needs, comparable to measures in Appendix D of
the SCO.
(4) Mental and Cognitive Demands, measures include work setting,
review, pace, in addition to personal contacts.
The ORS also collects the following supporting data to validate
reported requirements:
<bullet> Occupational task lists, defined as the critical job
function and key job tasks, to validate the reported requirements of
work. These task lists are comparable to data identified in the
Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Occupational Information
Network (O*NET) Program.
BLS will disseminate the data from the ORS on the BLS public
website (<a href="http://www.bls.gov/ors">www.bls.gov/ors</a>). The design uses an eight-year rotation with
complete estimates published after the full sample has been collected
in July 2031 with final estimates published no later than the second
quarter of FY 2032. Interim results will be produced and disseminated
on an annual basis.
ORS collection uses several forms for private industry and
government collection. Only one form version is used per interview
based on what best meets an individual field economist's note taking
needs for a given interview.
ORS data are defined to balance SSA's adjudication needs with the
ability of the respondent to provide data. With this clearance, BLS is
continuing collection of existing data.
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 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.
<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: Occupational Requirements Survey.
OMB Number: 1220-0189.
[[Page 47346]]
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; not-for-profit
institutions; and State, local, and tribal government.
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Average
Respondents responses per Total number of Average minutes Total hours
year responses
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Total Average...................................................... 6,346 1.00 6,346 53.46 5,669
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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 on September 26, 2025.
Eric Molina,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Branch of Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2025-19132 Filed 9-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
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