[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49666-49668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25192]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
National Employers Survey--4 (NES-4)
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 24,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Michael Hartz, U. S. Bureau of the Census, Room
2538-3--EPCD, Washington, DC 20233-6100; (301-457-2633).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau conducted three earlier National Employers
Surveys (1994, 1995 and 1997) for the National Center on the
Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW), a nonprofit research group.
This group's focus is discovering relationships among employment,
hiring, training, education, and business success. This information
collection seeks to build upon the results of the previous surveys.
This information collection seeks to gather information on
employees' histories and to identify employees' perceptions regarding
employer-provided training and job-related educational requirements.
The collection will relate these employees' responses to similar
information collected previously from employers in the 1997 National
Employers Survey (NES-3). The purpose is to identify those areas where
employee and employer views are similar and where they are different.
This information then would be used to suggest areas where additional
emphasis regarding employer job requirements are needed to enable
potential employees to qualify for employment.
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This new survey will be a mail questionnaire, to be sent to
approximately 6,000 employees of a sample of companies that responded
to the NES-3. The questionnaire will include about 40 questions that
solicit employees' views regarding employment qualifications and
training opportunities available to them that relate to their
employment. These survey questions are constructed to eliminate the
need for respondents to review any records relating to the subject of
this collection. We expect that each respondent completing the
questionnaire will spend about 20 minutes.
II. Method of Collection
The Bureau of the Census will conduct the NES-4 survey using a mail
questionnaire. This questionnaire will be sent to approximately 6,000
employees (at random) of companies that provided information for the
NES-3 survey. The questionnaire will consist of approximately 40
questions. Most questions will be constructed using a ``check-box''
format. The check boxes primarily will be questions requiring a ``yes/
no'' or ``on a range of 1 to 5'' response.
The surveys will be mailed to approximately 500 companies, chosen
through a stratified, random-sampling method. The companies will be
asked to distribute the questionnaires to a randomly selected set of
employees, using an appropriate criteria for randomization--which we
will provide. Employees completing the questionnaires will send them
directly to the Bureau of the Census, using pre-addressed, postage-paid
return envelopes. We will provide the employer with a second complete
set of questionnaires to be forwarded to all of the selected employees
approximately three weeks after the initial mailing. Employees will be
instructed to ignore this request if they have already responded. By
using a complete follow up, the employer will have no indication of the
employees' response status. Employers will not be allowed access to the
questionnaires completed by the employees or the information reported
on the questionnaires. Confidentiality is guaranteed by Title 13,
United States Code. After the Census Bureau performs data keying and
consistency editing, the data set will be provided to sworn Census
agents representing the survey sponsor.
As a high participation rate for employers is crucial for
statistically reliable data in the NES-4, Census has discussed this
issue with selected respondents from the NES-3. Nearly all of the
business establishments we contacted stated that they would strongly
consider participating in the survey. The businesses indicated that
their decision to participate in a survey was primarily based on their
perception of the usefulness of the requested information. The
businesses are very interested in the issues of the survey. One
business respondent said, ``After all, these are our concerns, too.''
Also, more respondents (employers) than in the previous two surveys
told the interviewers that they wanted the results of the survey. Based
on these factors (and especially the employers concerns about these
workplace issues), we expect a high rate of the employers from the NES-
3 to participate in the NES-4.
Some businesses expressed concern about the expenses (postage,
programming, labeling, etc.) of performing the operations for the
survey. They said it would be most important for us to provide the
postage and stationery. Labeling and programming were much less of a
concern to them as the businesses already have programs and procedures
in place that could accommodate this type of operation without much
cost or inconvenience to them. Based on these initial discussions (and
using information from future discussions) with potential employers, we
will include these features in the final design. We will provide the
participants with postage-paid envelopes and all necessary stationery
for the survey as these were the primary concerns. This is more direct
than reimbursing the employers and eliminates extra bookkeeping for the
employers to account for such payments. We plan to rely on the
employers to supply the labeling and employee selection services. We
will be talking to a few more respondents to help design an effective
and comfortable operational design for selecting employees and
distributing the materials.
A major concern Census had was the ability of the businesses to
draw a reliable, random sample. This did not present much of a problem
to the potential participants because the payroll was computerized and
the payroll record contained the Social Security number (which we
proposed to use as the selection criteria).
The EQW had two designs they wanted to evaluate. One was to measure
only newly hired employees and address a set of issues that relate to
that segment of the work force. Another is to survey across the board.
When we asked about limiting the selection to ``new hires,'' several of
the businesses thought that would pose a problem and recommended that
we survey all their employees. Based on our initial conversations, the
employers do understand our needs. At this point we believe that the
employers can effect a proper sample, however, some uncertainties
remain, and we will do further consultation with potential respondents.
We will be working with a few of the potential respondents to determine
how to impart our statistical requirements in written instructions. We
also will work with the employers to determine methods of validating
the sampling processes.
Another concern we discussed was anonymity. Those businesses we
consulted feel that employees are more likely to return the
questionnaires with accurate responses if we can assure them that the
employer would not see any of the responses and would not know if the
employee had responded or not. Employees are very sensitive to access
of their personal information, and we feel that good response will
require that we provide assurance of confidentiality.
We will do further investigation concerning anonymity, sampling of
employees, and operational considerations during the 60-day comment
period and we would particularly welcome any ideas or concerns on these
issues.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0787.
Form Number: NES-4.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Employees of business establishments with 20 or
more employees.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,000.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: No cost to the respondent other than
the time required to complete the questionnaire. There would be a small
cost to the employer in distributing the questionnaires, and, if
required, to select the sample of employees.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: United States Code, Title 13, sections 8 and 9.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
[[Page 49668]]
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: September 16, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-25192 Filed 9-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
