00-18868. 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 with 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 reinstatement of the Contingent Work Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS). 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 September 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212, telephone number 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance Officer, telephone number 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 50 years. Collection of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 through 9. Since the mid-1980s, there has been a growing belief among labor market researchers that employers require greater flexibility in their use of labor. As a result, many workers find themselves in “contingent jobs” that are structured to last for only limited duration or in alternative employment arrangements such as independent contracting, on-call work, working through a contract company or through a temporary help firm. It is feared that workers with such employment may have little job security, low pay, and no employee benefits. This CPS supplement will provide objective information about “contingent work.”

II. Desired Focus of Comments

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.

III. Current Action

The Contingent Work Supplement to the CPS provides information on the number and characteristics of workers in contingent jobs, that is, jobs that are structured to last only a limited period of time. The survey also provides information about workers in several alternative employment arrangements, including those working as independent contractors and on-call workers, as well as through temporary help agencies or contract companies.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Title: Contingent Work Supplement to the Current Population Survey.

OMB Number: 1220-0153.

Affected Public: Households.

Total Respondents: 48,000.

Frequency: Monthly.

Total Responses: 48,000.

Average Time Per Response: 9 minutes.

Estimated total Burden Hours: 7,200 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, D.C., this 20th day of July 2000.

W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,

Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.