90 FR 38 pgs. 10831-10832 - Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 38Pages: 10831 - 10832
Pages: 10831, 10832FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-03160 Filed 2-26-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Labor Department
Sub Agency: Labor Statistics Bureau
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
AGENCY:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
ACTION:
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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. 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 revision of the "National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997." A copy of the proposed information collection request 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 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, by email to BLS_PRA_Public@bls.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, at 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) is a nationally representative sample of persons who were born in the years 1980 to 1984. These respondents were ages 12-17 when the first round of annual interviews began in 1997; starting with round sixteen, the NLSY97 is conducted on a biennial basis. Round twenty-two interviews will occur from September 2025 to June 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) contracts with a vendor to conduct the NLSY97. The primary objective of the survey is to study the transition from schooling to the establishment of careers and families. The longitudinal focus of this survey requires information to be collected from the same individuals over many years in order to trace their education, training, work experience, fertility, income, and program participation.
One of the goals of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to produce and disseminate timely, accurate, and relevant information about the U.S. labor force. The BLS contributes to this goal by gathering information about the labor force and labor market and disseminating it to policymakers and the public so that participants in those markets can make more informed, and thus more efficient, choices.
[top] Research based on the NLSY97 contributes to the formation of national policy in the areas of education,
The survey design provides data gathered from the same respondents over time to form the only dataset that contains this type of information for this important population group. Without the collection of these data, an accurate longitudinal dataset could not be provided to researchers and policymakers, thus adversely affecting the DOL's ability to perform its policy- and report-making activities.
II. Current Action
The BLS seeks approval to conduct round 22 of biennial interviews of the NLSY97. Respondents of the NLSY97 will undergo an interview of approximately 71 minutes during which they will answer questions about schooling and labor market experiences, family relationships, and community background.
During the fielding period for the main round 22 interviews, no more than 2 percent of respondents will be asked to participate in a brief validation interview a few weeks after the initial interview. The purpose of the validation interview is to verify that the initial interview took place as the interviewer reported and to assess the data quality of selected questionnaire items.
The BLS plans to record randomly selected segments of the main interviews during round 22. Recording interviews helps the BLS and its contractors to ensure that the interviews actually took place and interviewers are reading the questions exactly as worded and entering the responses properly. Recording also helps to identify parts of the interview that might be causing problems or misunderstandings for interviewers or respondents. Each respondent will be informed that the interview may be recorded for quality control, testing, and training purposes. If the respondent objects to the recording of the interview, the interviewer will confirm to the respondent that the interview will not be recorded and then proceed with the interview.
Round 22 will be a predominantly telephone survey. We anticipate that approximately 99 percent of interviews will be completed by telephone, with the remaining interviews being conducted in person.
The round 22 questionnaire will resemble the round 21 questionnaire with few modifications. New questions for the round 22 questionnaire include questions on platform work, whether and which accommodations are offered by employers, clarifications on the nature of work arrangements, respondents' expectations for retirement and collect broad measures of disability. In addition, we have made attempts to streamline the questionnaire so that it will be shorter and less burdensome for respondents. To this end, fewer questions will be asked about coronavirus and health behaviors.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in comments that:
• 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.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
• 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.
Title of Collection: National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997.
OMB Number: 1220-0157.
Type of Review: Revision.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
| Form | Total respondents | Frequency | Total responses | Average burden (minutes) | Total burden (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main NLSY97: September 2023-June 2024 | 6,441 | One-time | 6,441 | 71 | 7,622 |
| Validation interview: October 2023-June 2024 | 100 | One-time | 100 | 6 | 10 |
| Totals?* | 6,441 | 6,541 | 7,632 |
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 on February 14, 2025.
Eric Molina,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Branch of Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2025-03160 Filed 2-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P