Under the National Compensation
Survey(NCS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently uses
the Employment Cost Index (ECI) and Occupational Employment
Statistics (OES) to provide grade and local wage data required by
the President's Pay Agent to comply with the requirements of the
Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA). The
President's Pay Agent uses these data to recommend pay increases
for Federal General Schedule workers; NCS data produces the
Employment Cost Index which is designated a Principal Federal
Economic Indicator under OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3.
NCS data is used to produce employment cost trends including the
ECI, the Employer Cost for Employee Compensation (ECEC), and
Employee Benefits (EBS).
US Code:
29 USC
2b Name of Law: BLS Authorizing Statute
US Code: 5 USC
5304 Name of Law: Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of
1990
US Code: 5 USC
5318 Name of Law: Ethics Reform Act of 1989
US Code: 2 USC
4501 Name of Law: Ethics Reform Act of 1989
BLS is seeking approval to
increase the NCS sample size for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to
mitigate against the impacts of pandemic related non-response on
survey estimates. To ensure a sufficient number of units are
collected to calculate the ECI, BLS is now seeking approval to
increase the NCS sample size for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023,
bringing the average total burden hours to 36,114.
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.