[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37070-37072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14921]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Collection of Information for the Evaluation of the
Self-Employment Training Demonstration; New Collection
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department or DOL), 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 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 the
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
The proposed application package, follow-up survey, site visit data
collection, and case study interviews are for an evaluation of the
Self-Employment Training (SET) Demonstration. This demonstration and
its evaluation are sponsored by ETA to understand whether providing
dislocated workers access to self-employment training and counseling
services increases their likelihood of reemployment, their earnings,
and their propensity to enter into self-employment.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee's section below on or before August 20, 2012.
ADDRESSES: A copy of this proposed information collection request may
be obtained by contacting Janet Javar at 202-693-3677 (this is not a
toll-free number) or email: [email protected]. Comments are to be
submitted to Department of Labor/Employment and Training
Administration, Attn: Janet Javar, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-
5641, Washington, DC 20210. Written comments may be transmitted by
facsimile to 202-693-2766 (this is not a toll-free number) or emailed
to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
ETA seeks to implement and rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of
innovative strategies for promoting employment based on the authority
granted to the agency under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act.
The SET Demonstration focuses specifically on self-employment as a
reemployment strategy for dislocated workers. The demonstration is
premised on the hypotheses that: (1) Self-employment could be a viable
strategy for dislocated workers to become reemployed; (2) starting a
small business is difficult, especially for individuals who lack
business expertise or access to start-up capital; and (3) dislocated
workers might experience difficulties locating and accessing training
and counseling services that could effectively prepare them for self-
employment via the existing workforce infrastructure.
The SET Demonstration will implement a new service delivery model
that seeks to better connect dislocated workers to self-employment
services. This approach differs from previous large-scale demonstration
programs, which have provided mixed evidence on the effectiveness of
self-employment services on earnings and employment, because the SET
Demonstration will: (1) Rely on self-employment advisors to offer more
intensive business development counseling services than prior
demonstrations have offered; and (2) concentrate on dislocated workers
who have fairly limited traditional employment prospects but are well-
positioned to benefit from self-employment counseling and training. The
SET Evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the SET Demonstration
model.
II. Review Focus
The Department 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 submission of responses.
III. Current Actions
This proposed information collection will involve collecting data
from participants of the SET Demonstration.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Type of Review: New Collection.
Title of Collection: Information and Survey Collection for the
Self-Employment Training Demonstration.
OMB Control Number: 1205-0NEW.
Affected Public: Applicants and participants (dislocated workers),
One-Stop Career Center (OSCC)
[[Page 37071]]
administrators and staff, and participating providers' self-employment
advisors and other staff providing support for the demonstration.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,449.
Estimated Total Burden Cost: $107,530.
For Consent and Application Forms
Number of Respondents: 4,000 applicants.\1\
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\1\ This pool of 4,000 applicants is expected to be self-
selected from a larger pool of dislocated workers after
participating in online SET Demonstration orientation sessions. (No
information will be collected in these orientation sessions.) It is
anticipated that approximately 3,000 applicants will meet the
demonstration's eligibility requirements; these successful
applicants will be assigned with equal probability to the program
and control groups.
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Frequency: Once.
Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 2,000 hours [ = 4,000 x (20/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $33,260 [ = 2,000 x $16.63 ].\2\
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\2\ Hourly wage rates were calculated using the Project GATE
public use dataset based on members of the control group who were
(1) unemployed at baseline and (2) had collected UI benefits in the
12 months prior to applying to the program. (Project GATE files are
available from ETA at: http://www.doleta.gov/reports/projectgate/.)
This subgroup of the GATE study sample is likely to most closely
resemble the pool of dislocated workers who will apply to the SET
Demonstration. At the six-month follow-up survey (the midpoint of
which was April, 2005), the average wage rate among employed members
of this sub-group was $14.15. At the eighteen month follow-up, this
average was $14.62. Adjusting for inflation, these wage rates
translate to $16.62 and $16.64, respectively, in 2012 dollars. Given
the similarity between these figures, a wage rate of $16.63 per hour
is used for potential SET Demonstration applicants and participants.
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For Program Participation Records
Participant Tracking Data
Number of Respondents: 24 self-employment advisors at the
demonstration's microdevelopment organizations (MDO) partner providers
(on behalf of 1,500 program group members, each active for
approximately 10 months).
Frequency: Monthly during two-year implementation period.
Number of Responses: 15,000 [ 10 monthly responses x 1,500
cases].\3\
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\3\ It is expected that most of the 1,500 program group members
will remain active in the SET Demonstration for the entire one-year
service period. However, some may become ``inactive'' before the end
of the program. Specifically, it is assumed that 5 percent of the
program group will drop out of the demonstration within the first
month and another 15 percent will have their services terminated by
the business development counselor within the first four months of
participation. As a result, the average program group member will
remain active for approximately 10 person-months.
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Average Time per Response: 3 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 750 hours [ = 15,000 x (3/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $25,403 [ = 750 x $33.87 ].\4\
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\4\ Based on the May 2011 National Occupational Employment and
Wage Estimates maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm), the average wage for
``Business Operations Specialists, All Other'' was $32.21, which
corresponds to $33.87 in 2012 dollars.
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Service Termination Information
Number of Respondents: 24 self-employment advisors at the SET
Demonstration's microdevelopment organizations (MDO) partner providers
(on behalf of each participant exiting the SET Demonstration before the
end of the one-year service period).
Frequency: Once per case.
Number of responses: 225 [ 0.15 x 1,500 cases].
Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 75 hours [ = 225 x (20/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $2,450 [ = 75 x $33.87 ].
Subtotal of Estimated Burden Hours, Program Participation Records:
885 hours.
Subtotal of Estimated Burden Cost, Program Participation Records:
$27,493.
For the 12-Month Follow-Up Survey
Number of Respondents: 2,400 study members.\5\
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\5\ It is assumed that the follow-up survey will achieve a
response rate of 80 percent among individuals who were randomly
assigned to the program and control groups.
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Frequency: Once.
Average Time per Response: 60 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 2,400 hours [ = 2,400 x (60/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $39,912 [ = 2,400 x $16.63 ].
For Site Visit Data Collection
Number of Respondents: 64 individuals, which includes 24 self-
employment advisors at MDO partner providers, 16 OSCC administrators
and staff, 24 additional staff members at organizations providing
support for the demonstration.
Frequency: Twice.
Number of responses: 128 [ = 2 x (24 + 16 + 24) ].
Average Time per Response: 90 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 192 hours [ = 128 x (90/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $5,883 [ = 192 x ($33.87 x (24/64) + $28.70
x (40/64)) ].\6\
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\6\ According to the May 2011 National Occupational Employment
and Wage Estimates maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm), the average wage for
``Training and Development Specialists'' was $28.14, which
corresponds to $28.70 in 2012 dollars. This wage rate is used for
OSCC staff and additional staff members (other than the program's
self-employment advisors) at organizations providing support for the
demonstration.
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For Case Study Interviews
Number of Respondents: 32 selected members of the program group.
Frequency: Once.
Average Time per Response: 60 minutes.
Estimated Burden Hours: 32 hours [ = 32 x (60/60) ].
Estimated Burden Cost: $532 [ = 32 x $16.63 ].
Table 1--Burden Estimates for SET Evaluation Data Collection Efforts
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Number of
responses/ Frequency of Average time Burden Burden cost
Respondents instances of collection per response (hours) \a\
collection (minutes)
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Consent and Application
Forms:
Applicants to the program 4,000 \b\....... Once........... 30 2,000 $33,260
Program Participation
Records:
Participant Tracking Data:
Self-employment advisors. 24 respondents 10 monthly 3 750 25,403
with 1,500 responses per
total cases \c\ case,
submitted over
a two-year
period \d\
Service Termination
Information:
[[Page 37072]]
Self-employment advisors. 24 respondents Once........... 20 75 2,540
with 225 total
cases \e\.
Total for Program 825 27,943
Participation Records.
12-Month Follow-Up Survey:
Successful applicants who 2,400 \f\....... Once........... 60 2,400 39,912
went through random
assignment.
Site Visits: \g\
Self-employment advisors 24.............. Twice.......... 90 72 2,439
and other staff at SET
Demonstration partner
providers.
OSCC administrators and 16.............. Twice.......... 90 48 1,378
case managers.
Other staff at 24.............. Twice.......... 90 72 2,066
organizations providing
support for the
demonstration.
Total for Site Visits.. ................ ............... .............. 192 5,883
Case Study Interviews:
Selected members of the 32.............. Once........... 60 32 532
program group completing
follow-up surveys.
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Total Burden......... ................ ............... .............. 5,549 107,530
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\a\ As noted in the main text, burden cost calculations assume wage rates of (1) $16.63 per hour among potential
applicants and participants in the SET Demonstration; (2) $33.87 per hour among self-employment advisors; and
(3) $28.70 per hour among staff at OSCCs and other staff at organizations providing support for the
demonstration.
\b\ Although eligibility criteria will be explicitly outlined in publicity materials and orientation sessions
for the program, it is assumed that approximately one in four applicants will be determined to be ineligible
and, therefore, screened out. Thus, it is anticipated that 4,000 applications will be collected in order to
enroll 3,000 study members.
\c\ Each of the 1,500 members of program group will be tracked by one of 24 self-employment advisors.
\d\ Given a one-year service period, it is expected that 10 monthly tracking reports per case, on average, will
be received based on the following assumptions: (1) 5 percent of the program group will drop out of the
demonstration within the first month after random assignment, and (2) another 15 percent will have services
terminated and be referred back to an OSCC by SET self-employment advisors within the first four months after
random assignment.
\e\ An expected total of 225 service terminations will be initiated by one of 24 self-employment advisors.
\f\ This figure assumes that the follow-up survey will achieve a response rate of 80 percent.
\g\ The burden estimates for each site visit respondent include (1) time coordinating with the study team and
preparing for the interview and (2) participating in the on-site meeting.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and may be included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the final information collection request. The comments will
become a matter of public record.
Signed in Washington, DC this Tuesday of June 12, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-14921 Filed 6-19-12; 8:45 am]
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