[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6215-6216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1803]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection, Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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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 (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 extension of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 
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 April 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202-691-7628. (This 
is not a toll free number.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, a 
Federal/State cooperative effort, produces monthly employment and 
quarterly wage information. It is a by-product of quarterly reports 
submitted to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) by employers subject to 
State Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws. The collection of these data is 
authorized by 29 U.S.C. 1, 2. The QCEW data, which are compiled for 
each calendar quarter, provide a comprehensive business name and 
address file with employment and wage information for employers subject 
to State UI laws. Similar data for Federal Government employers covered 
by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program also are 
included. These data are submitted to the BLS by all 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The BLS 
summarizes these data to produce totals for all counties, Metropolitan 
Statistical Areas, the States, and the nation. The QCEW program 
provides a virtual census of nonagricultural employees and their wages, 
with about 51 percent of the workers in agriculture covered as well.
    The QCEW program is a comprehensive and accurate source of data on 
the number of establishments, monthly employment, and quarterly wages, 
by industry, at the six-digit North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) level, and at the national, State, Metropolitan 
Statistical Area, and county levels. The QCEW series has broad economic 
significance in measuring labor trends and major industry developments, 
in time series analyses and industry comparisons, and in special 
studies such as analyses of establishments, employment, and wages by 
size of establishment.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program.
    The QCEW program is the only Federal statistical program that 
provides information on establishments, wages, tax contributions and 
the number of employees subject to State UI laws and the Unemployment 
Compensation for Federal Employees program. The consequences of not 
collecting QCEW data would be grave to the Federal statistical 
community. The BLS would not have a sampling frame for its 
establishment surveys; it would not be able to publish as accurate 
current estimates of employment for the U.S., States, and metropolitan 
areas; and it would not be able to publish quarterly census totals of 
local establishment counts, employment and wages. The Bureau of 
Economic Analysis would not be able to publish as accurate personal 
income data in a timely manner for the U.S., States, and local areas. 
Finally, the Employment Training Administration would not have the 
information it needs to administer the Unemployment Insurance Program.

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.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[[Page 6216]]

    Title: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) Program.
    OMB Number: 1220-0012.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 212.
    Average Time Per Response: 5,122 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,085,760 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, DC, this 28th day of January 2008.
Kimberley Hill,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. E8-1803 Filed 1-31-08; 8:45 am]
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