QCEW data, which are provided to the
BLS by State Workforce Agencies, are used by the BLS as a sampling
frame for its establishment surveys; for publishing of accurate
current estimates of employment for the US, states, counties, and
metropolitan areas; and publishing quarterly census totals of local
establishment counts, employment, and wages. The Bureau of Economic
Analysis uses the data to produce accurate personal income data in
a timely matter for the US, States, and local areas. Finally, the
data is critical to the Employment Training Administration to
administer unemployment insurance programs.
The burden has decreased by
68,640 hours, from 890,240 in FY 2016 to 821,600 in FY 2019. In
order to operate within prescribed funding levels, which resulted
in reduced positions in the states, in FY 2018 the QCEW program
raised the allowable threshold for establishments with unclassified
country codes from 2.5 percent to 3 percent of total unemployment
and focused less on address refinement for private sector single
and sub-units with employment of 100 or more.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.