survey on apprenticeship abbreviated supporting statement clearance form

OMB Approval No. 1205-0436

Expiration Date: 6/30/2020

ABBREVIATED SUPPORTING STATEMENT

CLEARANCE FORM

A. SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A.1. Title: Survey on Apprenticeship and Similar Work-Based Training Programs
A.2. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.5: Yes X No __	A.3. Assurances of Confidentiality: No
A.4. Federal Cost: $11,523	A.5. Requested Expiration Date (Month/Year): December 30, 2019
A.6. Burden Hour Estimates: a. Number of Respondents: 250 b. Frequency: once c. Average Response Time: 10 minutes d. Total Annual Burden Hours: 41.7 hours	A7. Does the Collection Of Information Employ Statistical Methods? X No __Yes (Complete Section B and attach CEO review sheet).
A.8. Abstract: Description and Purpose: This research is to support the Presidential Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America (www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/3245/), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) efforts to promote apprenticeship programs nationwide. Apprenticeships and similar programs are characterized by paid, relevant workplace experiences, and opportunities for development of specific occupational skills valued by employers, thus creating an affordable path to careers and high-paying jobs. These work-based learning programs are used to train new workers and to upskill incumbent workers – thus filling a critical need in today’s rapidly changing economy. The purpose of this survey is to obtain voluntary “real-time” examples of current apprenticeship and similar work-based training programs. The information gleaned from the survey responses will assist the DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship in understanding the landscape of apprenticeship across the country, and in its roles in program oversight, policy development, and technical assistance. Respondents will be members of eight industry associations working in partnership with DOL. On behalf of DOL, the associations will send notices to their members to invite them to respond to the survey if they have an apprenticeship or similar work-based training program in place. It is expected that only a relatively small percentage of the businesses (between 4,000 and 8,000) that will receive the notice will have such programs, and only a percentage of those organizations will respond. However, the outreach by a known employer organization will increase the likelihood of a response from such enterprises. It should be noted that the overall number of respondents anticipated to this survey is consistent with the level proposed in the supporting statement for OMB # 1205-0436, and the total burden of 41.7 hours for this survey will still allow for multiple other surveys under the overall burden level of 7,500 hours over three years. The universe for this survey is unknown, as there currently are no national level data on the number of employers who currently offer various forms of apprenticeship and work-based learning programs, nor data on the characteristics of such employers. This lack of data precludes determining if the respondents (and their businesses) are representative nationally, conducting a non-response bias analysis, and making statistical adjustments regarding such factors as: location (urban, rural, etc); size; industry classification; and demographic and educational characteristics of their workforces. Since there is no sampling or statistical analysis, no statistical review has been conducted. Information from the data collected in the survey will thus be treated as strictly suggestive and no statistical inferences will be made. Key areas of interest in the eventual suggestive findings will be used to understand employer motivations, concerns in regard to use of apprenticeship models, and potential areas for further and more rigorous research, as well as for technical assistance. This effort will not duplicate any information currently collected. The identities of individual respondents will not be included in published reports nor otherwise be revealed to anyone not directly involved in the information collection. Respondents will be advised that their responses will be kept private and confidential, and that any information they provide will be combined with that from other respondents and will not be presented in a report which will not identify, nor permit identification of any respondent or business. Respondent information will be protected to the extent permitted by law. Current Inventory of Surveys Under OMB control number 1205-0436: Four surveys were approved and have been conducted under this clearance.