The information collected and compiled
in the MLS program is used to satisfy the legislatively required
reporting mandated by Clause (iii) of Section 309(2)(15)(a)(1) (A)
of the Workforce Investment Act which states that the Secretary of
Labor shall oversee the development, maintenance, and continuous
improvements of the incidence of, industrial and geographical
location of, and number of workers displaced by, permanent layoffs
and plant closings. In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such
data are used by Congress, the Executive Branch, the business,
labor, and academic communities, State Workforce Agencies, and the
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for both macro- and microeconomic
analysis, including specific labor market studies geared towards
manpower assistance and development. Moreover, State agencies use
the MLS data in various ways, including: the identification of
geographic areas in need of special manpower services; the
identification of ailing or troubled industries; the identification
of specific employers needing assistance; the targeting of outreach
activities for the unemployed; and the determination of those
workers in need of temporary health care services.
The difference between the
current OMB inventory and the total annual hours requested results
from a change in how the MLS program calculates annual burden. The
program generally uses a historical three-year average of
respondents to calculate annual burden. This resulted in a slight
decrease in burden. In light of the current economic climate,
however, the MLS program has decided to use the data solely from
2008 in order to estimate future burden.
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.