National Employers Survey4 (NES-4)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

National Employers Survey--4 (NES-4)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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 November 24,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental 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

2538-3--EPCD, Washington, DC 20233-6100; (301-457-2633).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau conducted three earlier National Employers

Surveys (1994, 1995 and 1997) for the National Center on the

Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW), 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 on

employees' histories and to identify employees' perceptions regarding

employer-provided training and job-related educational requirements.

The collection will relate these employees' responses to similar

information collected previously from employers in the 1997 National

Employers Survey (NES-3). The purpose is to identify those areas where

employee and employer views are similar and where they are different.

This information then would be used to suggest areas where additional

emphasis regarding employer job requirements are needed to enable

potential employees to qualify for employment.

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This new survey will be a mail questionnaire, to be sent to

approximately 6,000 employees of a sample of companies that responded

to the NES-3. The questionnaire will include about 40 questions that

solicit employees' views regarding employment qualifications and

training opportunities available to them that relate to their

employment. These survey questions are constructed to eliminate the

need for respondents to review any records relating to the subject of

this collection. We expect that each respondent completing the

questionnaire will spend about 20 minutes.

II. Method of Collection

The Bureau of the Census will conduct the NES-4 survey using a mail

questionnaire. This questionnaire will be sent to approximately 6,000

employees (at random) of companies that provided information for the

NES-3 survey. The questionnaire will consist of approximately 40

questions. Most questions will be constructed using a ``check-box''

format. The check boxes primarily will be questions requiring a ``yes/

no'' or ``on a range of 1 to 5'' response.

The surveys will be mailed to approximately 500 companies, chosen

through a stratified, random-sampling method. The companies will be

asked to distribute the questionnaires to a randomly selected set of

employees, using an appropriate criteria for randomization--which we

will provide. Employees completing the questionnaires will send them

directly to the Bureau of the Census, using pre-addressed, postage-paid

return envelopes. We will provide the employer with a second complete

set of questionnaires to be forwarded to all of the selected employees

approximately three weeks after the initial mailing. Employees will be

instructed to ignore this request if they have already responded. By

using a complete follow up, the employer will have no indication of the

employees' response status. Employers will not be allowed access to the

questionnaires completed by the employees or the information reported

on the questionnaires. Confidentiality 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.

As a high participation rate for employers is crucial for

statistically reliable data in the NES-4, Census has discussed this

issue with selected respondents from the NES-3. Nearly all of the

business establishments we contacted stated that they would 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. The

businesses are very interested in the issues of the survey. One

business respondent said, ``After all, these are our concerns, too.''

Also, more respondents (employers) than in the previous two surveys

told the interviewers 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 NES-4.

Some businesses expressed concern about the expenses (postage,

programming, labeling, etc.) of performing the operations for the

survey. They said it would be most important for us to provide the

postage and stationery. Labeling and programming were much less of a

concern to them as the businesses already have programs and procedures

in place that could accommodate this type of operation without much

cost or inconvenience to them. Based on these initial discussions (and

using information from future discussions) with potential employers, we

will include these features in the final design. We will provide the

participants with postage-paid envelopes and all necessary stationery

for the survey as these were the primary concerns. This is more direct

than reimbursing the employers and eliminates extra bookkeeping for the

employers to account for such payments. We plan to rely on the

employers to supply the labeling and employee selection services. We

will be talking to a few more respondents to help design an effective

and comfortable operational design for selecting employees and

distributing the materials.

A major concern Census had was the ability of the businesses to

draw a reliable, random sample. This did not present much of a problem

to the potential participants because the payroll was computerized and

the payroll record contained the Social Security number (which we

proposed to use as the selection criteria).

The EQW had two designs they wanted to evaluate. One was to measure

only newly hired employees and address a set of issues that relate to

that segment of the work force. Another is to survey across the board.

When we asked about limiting the selection to ``new hires,'' several of

the businesses thought that would pose a problem and recommended that

we survey all their employees. Based on our initial conversations, the

employers do understand our needs. At this point we believe that the

employers can effect a proper sample, however, some uncertainties

remain, and we will do further consultation with potential respondents.

We will be working with a few of the potential respondents to determine

how to impart our statistical requirements in written instructions. We

also will work with the employers to determine methods of validating

the sampling processes.

Another concern we discussed was anonymity. Those businesses we

consulted feel that employees are more likely to return the

questionnaires with accurate responses if we can assure them that the

employer would not see any of the responses and would not know if the

employee had responded or not. Employees are very sensitive to access

of their personal information, and we feel that good response will

require that we provide assurance of confidentiality.

We will do further investigation concerning anonymity, sampling of

employees, and operational considerations during the 60-day comment

period and we would particularly welcome any ideas or concerns on these

issues.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0607-0787.

Form Number: NES-4.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Employees of business establishments with 20 or

more employees.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,000.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: No cost to the respondent other than

the time required to complete the questionnaire. There would be a small

cost to the employer in distributing the questionnaires, and, if

required, to select the sample of employees.

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

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(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: September 16, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-25192 Filed 9-22-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P