[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 3700-3701] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-1748] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census National Employers Survey (NES)--Follow-up ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 March 27, 1998. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental [[Page 3701]] 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, FB 3, EPCD, Washington, DC 20233-6100; (301-457-2633). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Census Bureau conducted three National Employers Surveys (1994, 1995, and 1997) for the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce, 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 specifically on employers' school-to-work programs. The collection will relate these findings to similar information collected from employers in the 1997 National Employers Survey (NES-3). The purpose is to measure change, or lack of it, in the scope and prevalence of these programs. We will use the follow-up data to assess changes from the 1997 NES on three major measures: the number of businesses participating in school-to-work that offer work-based learning slots; the number of school-to-work businesses that provide remedial education; and recruitment costs of school-to-work businesses. This new survey will be a telephone survey of approximately 1,000 establishments that participated in the NES-3. II. Method of Collection The Bureau of the Census will conduct the NES Follow-up survey via telephone. The information will be recorded on paper and later coded into a computer database. The interview will include about 40 questions, most of which will not require the respondent to refer to any records, and will require about 10 minutes to complete. The survey will be conducted of approximately 1,000 establishments with more than 20 employees, chosen through a stratified, random- sampling method. Confidentiality of the survey data 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. A high participation rate for employers is usually crucial for statistically reliable data in this type of survey. The survey sponsor has discussed the survey issues with selected respondents from the NES- 3. It is the sponsor's opinion that the business establishments they contacted were quite interested in the survey issues and that most will 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 and the businesses are very interested in the issues of the survey. Several respondents (employers) told the sponsor 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 Follow-up. III. Data OMB Number: 0607-0787. Form Number: NES Follow-up telephone interview. Type of Review: Regular. Affected Public: Business establishments with 20 or more employees. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000. Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167. Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to the respondent other than the time required to complete the interview. 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 (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: January 20, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization. [FR Doc. 98-1748 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P