83_FR_9592 83 FR 9548 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Analysis of Employer Performance Measurement Approaches

83 FR 9548 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Analysis of Employer Performance Measurement Approaches

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 44 (March 6, 2018)

Page Range9548-9549
FR Document2018-04546

The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 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). This program helps to ensure that required 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. Currently, DOL is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the Analysis of Employer Performance Measurement Approaches. A copy of the proposed information Collection Request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9548-9549]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04546]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Analysis of Employer Performance Measurement 
Approaches

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation 
Office, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance 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). This program helps to ensure that 
required 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.
    Currently, DOL is soliciting comments concerning the collection of 
data about the Analysis of Employer Performance Measurement Approaches. 
A copy of the proposed information Collection Request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the Addresses section 
of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before May 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either one of the following 
methods: Email: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.fgov; Mail or Courier: Megan 
Lizik, Chief Evaluation Office, OASP, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-
2312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. Instructions: 
Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and OMB Control 
Number identified for this information collection. Comments, including 
any personal information provided, become a matter of public record. 
They will also be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB 
approval of the information collection request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Megan Lizik by email at 
ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO), in collaboration with the 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is conducting a 36-month 
analysis of employer services measurement approaches and metrics, as 
well as their cross-state and cross-program applicability, with a goal 
of understanding and implementing a final indicator of performance. 
Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the 
Secretaries of Labor and Education are required to establish one or 
more primary indicators of performance that indicate the effectiveness 
of core programs in serving employers. Through town halls, workgroups, 
and questions posed through the notice of proposed rule-making, the 
Secretaries of Labor and Education established three measures to be 
piloted by States: (1) An employee retention measure, (2) an employer 
penetration rate, and (3) a repeat business measure. States were also 
encouraged to pilot additional measures to assess effectiveness in 
serving employers. No clear metric has emerged to date as a single 
point of measurement of success in providing services to employers.
    The study will explore and establish an understanding of the state 
of the field in the area of employer services measurement and 
supplement the start-up of reporting by the States on the National 
Pilot measures. Key objectives of the study include: (1) Developing and 
understanding how employer services are defined by the federal 
government, States, localities, and core WIOA programs and exploring 
options for developing a uniform definition of employer services; (2) 
identifying what measures exist for understanding employer services, 
key objectives of these measures, and possibilities for uniform 
implementation at the federal level; and (3) developing options for an 
evaluation design to assess the validity, reliability, and feasibility 
of proposed measures and alternative measures of effectiveness in 
serving employers.
    This notification requests clearance for: (1) A 45-minute online 
survey of state WIOA administrators in the fifty States, the District 
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands; (2) a 20-minute 
online survey of a sample of employers identified in partnership with 
the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA); (3) site 
visits that include structured interviews and focus groups to 
approximately 8 States; and (4) interviews with approximately 8 
employers.
    The survey of state WIOA administrators will collect information on 
which measures are being used by States, including National Pilot 
measures and alternate measures, progress made in implementing those 
measures, and how those measures are being used beyond required federal 
reporting.
    The survey of a sample of employers will document businesses' 
understanding of employer services from the workforce system and what 
it means for those services to be effective. The sample of employers 
will be drawn from DirectEmployers members, NASWA Business of the Year 
Award Winners, and others recommended by NASWA.

[[Page 9549]]

    The site visits to a selection of approximately eight States are 
intended to allow a deeper understanding of why particular measures 
were selected, progress in implementing performance measures, and 
related challenges. This fieldwork will include semi-structured 
interviews and focus groups. The States will be selected based on the 
results of the survey and other study knowledge, to include a mix of 
locations in terms of geographic region, performance measures being 
used, and status of implementation. Semi-structured interviews with a 
selection of approximately eight employers are intended to more fully 
explore issues of interest that emerge from the employer survey 
responses. Employer interview respondents will be selected based on 
survey responses as well as suggestions from NASWA regarding employers 
with particularly strong experience engaging with the workforce system.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, DOL is soliciting comments concerning the above data 
collection for the analysis of employer performance measurement 
approaches. DOL is particularly interested in comments that do the 
following:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency 
related to employer services, including whether the information will 
have practical utility;
     evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the ICR to survey and fieldwork respondents, including the 
validity of the study approach and assumptions used;
     enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including 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).

                                         Table 1--Estimated Time Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
 Information collection activity   Total number    Annual number   responses per   per response    Annual burden
                                  of respondents  of respondents    respondent        (hours)          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey--State WIOA Administrator          \a\ 43              14               1            0.75              11
Survey--Employer................         \b\ 474             158               1            0.33              53
Site Visit Protocol--State                    32              11               1            0.75               8
 Administrator..................
Site Visit Protocol--Local                     8               3               1            0.75               2
 Administrator..................
Site Visit Protocol--State and                32              11               1            0.75               8
 Local Workforce Development
 Board Staff and Members........
Site Visit Protocol--State and                16               5               1            0.75               4
 Local Staff Collecting
 Performance Data...............
Site Visit Protocol--American             \c\ 40              13               1               1              13
 Job Center Staff...............
Interview--Employer.............               8               3               1            0.75               2
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................             653             218  ..............  ..............             101
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Based on an 80 percent response rate.
\b\ Based on a 50 percent response rate.
\c\ One focus group of five per site visit.

III. Current Actions

    At this time, the Department of Labor is requesting clearance for 
data collection via online surveys and fieldwork for the analysis of 
employer performance measurement approaches.
    Type of review: New ICR
    OMB Control Number: 1290-0NEW
    Affected Public: Individuals working on state and local workforce 
development programs, Workforce Development Boards, and American Job 
Centers selected for surveys and fieldwork; HR department 
representatives of businesses selected for surveys and interviews.
    Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 27, 2018.
Molly Irwin,
Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2018-04546 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-HX-P



                                                9548                                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2018 / Notices

                                                                                                                        ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS—Continued
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Average
                                                                                                                                               Total             Annual           Number of                                              Annual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 burden
                                                                             Type of instrument                                              number of         number of        responses per                                          estimated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                hour per
                                                                                                                                            respondents       respondents         respondent                                          burden hours
                                                                                                                                                                                                               response

                                                Quarterly Narrative Progress Reports .................................                                  24                  8                        4                        10               320
                                                Quarterly Performance Reports ...........................................                               24                  8                        4                         4               128

                                                     Total ..............................................................................          9,948               3,316    ........................   ........................          9,226



                                                  Comments submitted in response to                                       addressee section below on or before                      of success in providing services to
                                                this request will be summarized and/or                                    May 7, 2018.                                              employers.
                                                included in the request for Office of                                     ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                           The study will explore and establish
                                                Management and Budget approval of the                                     by either one of the following methods:                   an understanding of the state of the field
                                                information collection request; they will                                 Email: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.fgov;                    in the area of employer services
                                                also become a matter of public record.                                    Mail or Courier: Megan Lizik, Chief                       measurement and supplement the start-
                                                  Dated: February 27, 2018.                                               Evaluation Office, OASP, U.S.                             up of reporting by the States on the
                                                Molly Irwin,                                                              Department of Labor, Room S–2312, 200                     National Pilot measures. Key objectives
                                                                                                                          Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,                       of the study include: (1) Developing and
                                                Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of
                                                Labor.                                                                    DC 20210. Instructions: Please submit                     understanding how employer services
                                                                                                                          one copy of your comments by only one                     are defined by the federal government,
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–04545 Filed 3–5–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                          method. All submissions received must                     States, localities, and core WIOA
                                                BILLING CODE 4510–HX–P
                                                                                                                          include the agency name and OMB                           programs and exploring options for
                                                                                                                          Control Number identified for this                        developing a uniform definition of
                                                DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                                                       information collection. Comments,                         employer services; (2) identifying what
                                                                                                                          including any personal information                        measures exist for understanding
                                                Agency Information Collection                                             provided, become a matter of public                       employer services, key objectives of
                                                Activities; Submission for OMB                                            record. They will also be summarized                      these measures, and possibilities for
                                                Review; Comment Request; Analysis                                         and/or included in the request for OMB                    uniform implementation at the federal
                                                of Employer Performance                                                   approval of the information collection                    level; and (3) developing options for an
                                                Measurement Approaches                                                    request.                                                  evaluation design to assess the validity,
                                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                          reliability, and feasibility of proposed
                                                AGENCY:  Office of the Assistant                                          Contact Megan Lizik by email at                           measures and alternative measures of
                                                Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation                                    ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov.                            effectiveness in serving employers.
                                                Office, Department of Labor.                                                                                                           This notification requests clearance
                                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                ACTION: Notice of Information                                                                                                       for: (1) A 45-minute online survey of
                                                Collection; request for comment.                                          I. Background                                             state WIOA administrators in the fifty
                                                                                                                             The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO), in                  States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
                                                SUMMARY:   The Department of Labor                                        collaboration with the Employment and                     Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands; (2)
                                                (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to                                Training Administration (ETA), is                         a 20-minute online survey of a sample
                                                reduce paperwork and respondent                                           conducting a 36-month analysis of                         of employers identified in partnership
                                                burden, conducts a preclearance                                           employer services measurement                             with the National Association of State
                                                consultation program to provide the                                       approaches and metrics, as well as their                  Workforce Agencies (NASWA); (3) site
                                                general public and Federal agencies                                       cross-state and cross-program                             visits that include structured interviews
                                                with an opportunity to comment on                                         applicability, with a goal of                             and focus groups to approximately 8
                                                proposed and/or continuing collections                                    understanding and implementing a final                    States; and (4) interviews with
                                                of information in accordance with the                                     indicator of performance. Under the                       approximately 8 employers.
                                                Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                                           Workforce Innovation and Opportunity                         The survey of state WIOA
                                                (PRA95). This program helps to ensure                                     Act (WIOA), the Secretaries of Labor                      administrators will collect information
                                                that required data can be provided in                                     and Education are required to establish                   on which measures are being used by
                                                the desired format, reporting burden                                      one or more primary indicators of                         States, including National Pilot
                                                (time and financial resources) is                                         performance that indicate the                             measures and alternate measures,
                                                minimized, collection instruments are                                     effectiveness of core programs in serving                 progress made in implementing those
                                                clearly understood, and the impact of                                     employers. Through town halls,                            measures, and how those measures are
                                                collection requirements on respondents                                    workgroups, and questions posed                           being used beyond required federal
                                                can be properly assessed.                                                 through the notice of proposed rule-                      reporting.
                                                   Currently, DOL is soliciting comments                                  making, the Secretaries of Labor and                         The survey of a sample of employers
                                                concerning the collection of data about                                   Education established three measures to                   will document businesses’
                                                the Analysis of Employer Performance                                      be piloted by States: (1) An employee                     understanding of employer services
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                Measurement Approaches. A copy of                                         retention measure, (2) an employer                        from the workforce system and what it
                                                the proposed information Collection                                       penetration rate, and (3) a repeat                        means for those services to be effective.
                                                Request (ICR) can be obtained by                                          business measure. States were also                        The sample of employers will be drawn
                                                contacting the office listed below in the                                 encouraged to pilot additional measures                   from DirectEmployers members,
                                                ADDRESSES section of this notice.                                         to assess effectiveness in serving                        NASWA Business of the Year Award
                                                DATES: Written comments must be                                           employers. No clear metric has emerged                    Winners, and others recommended by
                                                submitted to the office listed in the                                     to date as a single point of measurement                  NASWA.


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                                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2018 / Notices                                                                               9549

                                                   The site visits to a selection of                                       respondents will be selected based on                      the information will have practical
                                                approximately eight States are intended                                    survey responses as well as suggestions                    utility;
                                                to allow a deeper understanding of why                                     from NASWA regarding employers with                          • evaluate the accuracy of the
                                                particular measures were selected,                                         particularly strong experience engaging                    agency’s estimate of the burden of the
                                                progress in implementing performance                                       with the workforce system.                                 ICR to survey and fieldwork
                                                measures, and related challenges. This                                                                                                respondents, including the validity of
                                                fieldwork will include semi-structured                                     II. Desired Focus of Comments                              the study approach and assumptions
                                                interviews and focus groups. The States                                      Currently, DOL is soliciting comments                    used;
                                                will be selected based on the results of                                                                                                • enhance the quality, utility, and
                                                                                                                           concerning the above data collection for
                                                the survey and other study knowledge,                                                                                                 clarity of the information to be
                                                                                                                           the analysis of employer performance
                                                to include a mix of locations in terms                                                                                                collected; and
                                                                                                                           measurement approaches. DOL is
                                                of geographic region, performance                                                                                                       • minimize the burden of the
                                                                                                                           particularly interested in comments that
                                                measures being used, and status of                                                                                                    information collection on respondents,
                                                implementation. Semi-structured                                            do the following:                                          including the use of appropriate
                                                interviews with a selection of                                               • Evaluate whether the proposed                          automated, electronic, mechanical, or
                                                approximately eight employers are                                          collection of information is necessary                     other technological collection
                                                intended to more fully explore issues of                                   for the proper performance of the                          techniques or other forms of information
                                                interest that emerge from the employer                                     functions of the agency related to                         technology (e.g., permitting electronic
                                                survey responses. Employer interview                                       employer services, including whether                       submission of responses).

                                                                                                                              TABLE 1—ESTIMATED TIME BURDEN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Average
                                                                                                                                                Total               Annual          Number of                   burden per                 Annual
                                                                      Information collection activity                                         number of           number of       responses per                  response               burden hours
                                                                                                                                             respondents         respondents        respondent                    (hours)

                                                Survey—State WIOA Administrator .....................................                                    a 43                14                        1                     0.75                 11
                                                Survey—Employer ...............................................................                     b 474                   158                        1                     0.33                 53
                                                Site Visit Protocol—State Administrator ..............................                                    32                 11                        1                     0.75                  8
                                                Site Visit Protocol—Local Administrator ..............................                                     8                  3                        1                     0.75                  2
                                                Site Visit Protocol—State and Local Workforce Develop-
                                                   ment Board Staff and Members .......................................                                   32                 11                         1                     0.75                 8
                                                Site Visit Protocol—State and Local Staff Collecting Per-
                                                   formance Data ..................................................................                       16                  5                        1                     0.75                  4
                                                Site Visit Protocol—American Job Center Staff ..................                                         c 40                13                        1                        1                 13
                                                Interview—Employer ............................................................                            8                  3                        1                     0.75                  2

                                                      Total ..............................................................................               653                218   ........................   ........................            101
                                                   a Based on an 80 percent response rate.
                                                   b Based on a 50 percent response rate.
                                                   c One focus group of five per site visit.




                                                III. Current Actions                                                         Dated: February 27, 2018.                                Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the
                                                                                                                           Molly Irwin,                                               Office of Management and Budget
                                                   At this time, the Department of Labor                                   Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of               (OMB) is proposing to amend OMB
                                                is requesting clearance for data                                           Labor.                                                     Circular A–131, Value Engineering, to
                                                collection via online surveys and                                          [FR Doc. 2018–04546 Filed 3–5–18; 8:45 am]                 reduce the reporting burden on Federal
                                                fieldwork for the analysis of employer                                     BILLING CODE 4510–HX–P                                     agencies. Value Engineering is an
                                                performance measurement approaches.                                                                                                   effective technique for cutting waste and
                                                   Type of review: New ICR                                                                                                            inefficiency—helping Federal agencies
                                                                                                                                                                                      reduce acquisition costs, improve
                                                   OMB Control Number: 1290–0NEW                                           OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND                                   performance, enhance quality, and
                                                   Affected Public: Individuals working                                    BUDGET                                                     foster innovation. The proposal would
                                                on state and local workforce                                                                                                          eliminate the requirement for agencies
                                                                                                                           Office of Federal Procurement Policy
                                                development programs, Workforce                                                                                                       to report annually to OMB and instead
                                                Development Boards, and American Job                                       Value Engineering (VE)                                     encourage agencies to share best
                                                Centers selected for surveys and                                                                                                      practices, case studies and other
                                                fieldwork; HR department                                                   AGENCY:  Office of Federal Procurement                     information on the Acquisition Gateway
                                                representatives of businesses selected                                     Policy (OFPP), Office of Management                        (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/login-
                                                for surveys and interviews.                                                and Budget (OMB).                                          information) that can facilitate better
                                                                                                                           ACTION: Proposed revision to Office of                     understanding and use of this
                                                   Comments submitted in response to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                           Management and Budget Circular No.                         management tool within the Executive
                                                this request will be summarized and/or
                                                                                                                           A–131, ‘‘Value Engineering’’.                              Branch.
                                                included in the request for Office of
                                                Management and Budget (OMB)                                                SUMMARY: In accordance with OMB                            DATES:Interested parties should submit
                                                approval; they will also become a matter                                   Memorandum M–17–26 ‘‘Reducing                              comments within 30 days of this notice.
                                                of public record.                                                          Burden for Federal Agencies by                             ADDRESSES: Comments may be
                                                                                                                           Rescinding and Modifying OMB                               submitted through http://
                                                                                                                           Memoranda,’’ the Office of Federal                         www.regulations.gov.


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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:48:37
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:48:37
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Information Collection; request for comment.
DatesWritten comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
ContactContact Megan Lizik by email at [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 9548 

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