ETA_OUI_OMB 1205-0353_Supporting statement_250925

Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Activity and Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Outcomes OMB Control Number 1205-0353

OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2026

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR

Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Activity and Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Outcomes

OMB Control No. 1205-0353

This ICR seeks to request an extension without change to the information collection activities currently approved under OMB Control Number 1205-0353, Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services (WPRS) Activity and Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Outcomes.

1. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

The Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services (WPRS) program, mandated by the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1993, Public Law 103-152, identifies and ranks unemployment insurance (UI) claimants by their potential for exhausting benefits before returning to work and refers these claimants to appropriate reemployment services. The goal is to provide the reemployment services that would be most helpful to the claimant as soon as possible. Statistical models or characteristic screens are employed to identify those claimants who are most likely to exhaust benefits. This identification process allows states to target resources to those most in need.

WPRS is a required UI activity that each state may operate as a standalone program or integrated within the state's Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) program, which is a voluntary reemployment program authorized by Section 306 of the Social Security Act (SSA). Specifically, states participating in the RESEA program may opt to integrate WPRS into the RESEA participant selection process. States that fully integrate WPRS into their RESEA program and provide RESEA services statewide are exempt from WPRS reporting because WPRS activities are fully reflected in RESEA quarterly report (ETA 9128 and ETA 9129).

The ETA 9048 and ETA 9049 reports are the only means of tracking the activities in the WPRS program in instances where states have not volunteered to participate in RESEA, opted to not integrate WPRS into their RESEA program design, or continue provide WPRS services in areas not currently served by RESEA. The ETA 9048 report describes the number of claimants at various points in the WPRS system from initial profiling through the completion of specific reemployment services. ETA 9049 describes the reemployment experience of profiled claimants selected for referral to services by examining the state's existing wage record files to capture which quarter the individuals who received reemployment services became employed, what wages they earned, and whether the individuals receiving services changed industries. Section 303(a)(6), SSA, authorizes this information collection.

States that opt not to include WPRS into their RESEA program design or only offer RESEA in limited locations must continue to submit the ETA 9048 and ETA 9049. Based on analysis of historical data and state's planned RESEA activities, ETA projects that up to 5 states per year will continue to report WPRS activities using the ETA 9048 and ETA 9049, and burden estimates have been revised to reflect this projected level of activity. Additional information about the integration of WPRS into RESEA is available in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 10-22 and Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 05-21, “Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Funding Allotments and Operating Guidance for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Grants.”

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

These reports provide counts of services and outcome measures for those served by the states and are used to monitor the program. The data uses counts of reemployment services and the subsequent wage records of WPRS participants to analyze the effectiveness of the reemployment services intervention. Thus, states may make adjustments in their programs to make them more effective. Section 4(a), paragraph C of PL 103-152 requires that states collect information for purposes of improving their methodology of identification. The ETA 9048 report is the count of activities of WPRS claimants and the ETA 9049 is a report of wage records after claimants have received services. These reports track the reemployment services provided to claimants and the successes of referred claimants.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

States have been encouraged to automate the WPRS process as much as possible. Selection of participants, feedback from the service providers, and searches of wage records for reemployment outcomes are all automated processes. States establish agreements with service providers to obtain necessary WPRS data about the services provided. All reporting is done electronically through an automated reporting interface that states use for the submission of all UI-related data.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item A.2 above.

There is no duplication as there is no other source of data that captures the impacts of the reemployment services provided through the WPRS program. ETA has other information collections that describe reemployment services such as DOL-Only Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting System (OMB 1205-0521) and Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Reports (OMB number 1205-0456) but this collection does not provide a description of the services and outcomes for the population served by the WPRS program.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This collection does not impact small businesses.

6. Describe the consequence to federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Collecting this information less frequently would not allow for monitoring changes, nor evaluation of the impact or effectiveness of various reemployment services over time.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

Collection is consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years -- even if the collection-of-information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the public was given an opportunity to review and comment through a notice in the Federal Register on June 16, 2025 (90 FR 25377). No comment received.

No internal or external consultations are needed for this routine three-year, as the States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are aware of the report.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gifts were provided to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

There is no personally identifiable information collected on the ETA 9048 or 9049. Data collected is aggregated for all program participants and contains no information on any one specific individual. States have no expectation of confidentiality for the data they submit to ETA and the public burden statement reflects this.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

No questions of a sensitive nature are contained on this report.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14.

Estimated Annualized Respondent Cost and Hour Burden

Activity	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Total Responses	Average Burden (Hours)	Total Burden (Hours)	Hourly Wage Rate	Total Burden Cost
SWA’s Completed ETA 9048	5	4	20	.25	5	$53	$265
SWA’s Complete ETA 9049	5	4	20	.25	5	$53	$265
SWA’s- Record Keeping	5	20,027.5	100,138	.1	10,014	$53	$530,742
SWA Reporting- WPRS Compliance within State	105,205	1	105,205	2.5	263,013	$53	$13,939,689
Totals	105,220	Varies	205,383 (Rounded)	Varies	273,037 (Rounded)	$53	$14,470,961

*Source: The hourly rate is computed by dividing the FY 2025 national average PS/PB annual salary for state staff as provided for through the distribution of state UI administrative grants

(https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/uipl-19-24)by the average number of hours worked in a year (1,711).  For FY 2025, this calculation is: $90,282 / 1,711= $53.

At this time, 49 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands operate a statewide RESEA program. RESEA is a voluntary program, states that currently implement the RESEA program, may decide they no longer want to implement the RESEA program. To account for this, our office has identified the number of respondents as 5.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital

and startup cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a

total operation and maintenance and purchase of service component.

The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating,

maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of

methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

This, and all other routine reporting for UI, is paid for by monies allocated to states for administration. There are no breakouts for specific reports. This is a well-established report so there are not start-up costs.

14. Provide estimates of the annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 into a single table.

Although no staff is required to process this report, ETA has budgeted $920,436.80 in fiscal year 2025, to operate and maintain the Unemployment Insurance Required Reports system. Including the subject ICR, this system supports 30 information collections. For administrative purposes, each information collection is assumed to contribute an equal share of the cost for supporting the entire system; therefore, the cost allocated to this ICR is estimated to be $30,681.22 ($920,436.80 system cost/30 information collections).

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

The currently approved ICR reported that 53 states and territories were using WPRS. This was done because RESEA is a voluntary program and during any fiscal year, a state may decide whether or not to participate in RESEA.

States that are operating RESEA statewide and in a manner that incorporates WPRS participants selection are not required to submit WPRS reports. Over the past few years almost all states adopted statewide RESEA programs, and no more than five states were required to report on WPRS. Most recently, in FY 2023 only one state was required to provide WPRS reports (the one states does not operate any RESEA program).

Based on states adoption of RESEA in place of WPRS, ETA updated the burden to reflect the size of the current potential filer universe. As a result, ETA has updated the burden calculation to account for 5 states reporting rather than 53.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulations, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

Data collected from states is matter of public record and is made available on the ETA web site at the following address: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/profile.asp.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The OMB inventory number and expiration date will be displayed on the bottom of all report facsimiles.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATON EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS.

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

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