[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70569-70570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27970]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Comment Request for Information Collection for O*NET Data
Collection Program, Extension of Currently Approved Collection With
Minor Revisions
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)] (PRA). The PRA helps ensure that
respondents can provide requested data in the desired format with
minimal reporting burden (time and financial resources), collection
instruments are clearly understood and the impact of collection
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension of the O*NET (Occupational
Information Network) Data Collection Program (expires June 30, 2015). A
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section
of this notice or by accessing: http://www.onetcenter.org/ombclearance.html
DATES: Submit written comments to the office listed in the addresses
section below on or before January 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lauren Fairley Wright, Division of
National Programs, Tools and Technical Assistance, Room C4526,
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-
693-3731 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or
speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-
5627 (TTY/TDD). Fax: 202-693-3015. Email: [email protected]. To
obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), you
may email the person listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The O*NET Data Collection Program is an ongoing effort to collect
and maintain current information on the detailed characteristics of
occupations and skills for more than 900 occupations. The resulting
database provides the most comprehensive standardized source of
occupational and skills information in the nation. O*NET information is
used by a wide range of audiences, including individuals making career
decisions, public agencies and schools providing career exploration
services or education and training programs, and businesses making
staffing and training decisions. The O*NET system provides a common
language, framework and database to meet the administrative needs of
various federal programs, including workforce investment and training
programs supported by funding from the Departments of Labor, Education,
and Health and Human Services.
Section 308 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
requires the Secretary of Labor to oversee the ``development,
maintenance, and continuous improvement of a nationwide workforce and
labor market information system'' which shall include, among other
components, ``skill trends by occupation and industry.'' The O*NET
database provides:
[ssquf] Detailed information for more than 900 occupations.
[ssquf] Descriptive information using standardized descriptors for
skills, abilities, interests, knowledge, work values, education,
training, work context, and work activities.
[ssquf] Occupational coding based on the 2010 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system.
Several minor questionnaire changes for the Knowledge Questionnaire
and the Background Questionnaire are pending in this submission. These
changes are described in detail in Appendix A of the proposed
Information Collection Request. These changes do not represent an
increase in respondent burden.
The O*NET electronic database and related O*NET products and tools
have
[[Page 70570]]
been incorporated into numerous public and private sector products and
resources, summarized at http://www.onetcenter.org/paw.html. These
products in turn serve millions of customers.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor 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 Actions
Type of Review: Extension with minor revisions.
Title: O*NET Data Collection Program.
OMB Number: 1205-0421.
Affected Public: private sector (for-profit businesses and not-for-
profit organizations); state, local and tribal governments; federal
government; individuals.
Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 28,866.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 28,866.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,537.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: 0.
We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of
the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request;
they will also become a matter of public record.
Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-27970 Filed 11-25-14; 8:45 am]
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