[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.

[[Page 49667]]

    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