Ending sampling for the ETA 203 unemployment report

UIPL22-11ACC.pdf (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/UIPL/2011/UIPL22-11ACC.pdf)

                                                          CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                 UI
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                            CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
                                                          OUI/DFAS
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
                                                          DATE
             Washington, D.C. 20210                       June 29, 2011



ADVISORY:          UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 22-11

TO:                STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:              JANE OATES /s/
                   Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:           Elimination of Sampling as a Method for Producing the Employment and
                   Training Administration (ETA) 203 Report

1. Purpose. To advise states that the ETA 203 report, “Characteristics of the Insured
Unemployed,” should no longer be produced through statistical sampling.

2. References. Office of Management and Budget Collection number 1205-0009 and
Employment and Training Handbook 401, Fourth Edition - Unemployment Insurance Reports
Handbook.

3. Background. The ETA 203 report provides information, by state and for the Nation, about
the characteristics of Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants. This data is useful in describing
the population of claimants and determining how that population changes over time and under
various conditions. It can also be compared with characteristic figures of the total unemployed
as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The survey week for this report coincides with the survey week for BLS' Current Population
Survey (CPS) program. This usually represents weeks claimed filed during the week containing
the 19th day of the month and reflects unemployment experienced during the prior week which
contains the 12th day of the month. The CPS survey week also contains the 12th day of the
month.

4. Additional Guidance. States have been able to produce data suitable for submission of the
ETA 203 report either by: (1) summarizing all weeks claimed which are filed during the week
containing the 19th day of the month, or (2) by taking a sample of weeks claimed filed during the
week containing the 19th day of the month and inflating the resulting numbers to the population
level. The difficulties that arise in assuring statistically representative sampling, and the
possibility of additional error introduced through sampling, are problems that are substantially
greater than any potential benefit from sampling for the purposes of this report. In addition,
because of the level of automation, states can easily compute summary statistics without the
possibility of additional error. Therefore, beginning with reports submitted for August 2011,


 RESCISSIONS:                                            EXPIRATION DATE:
 None                                                    None

states should no longer use a sampling methodology for this report and must categorize all
regular state program continuing claims into the available categories.

The sum of claimant counts in any given category, such as age or occupation, should generally
be identical to the total number of state UI continued weeks claimed that are reported on the
ETA 539 report with a report date that includes the 19th day of the month. Continued weeks
claimed under the Federal-State Extended Benefit program, the Emergency Unemployment
Compensation program, state Additional Benefits programs, or any other extended compensation
program should not be included on the ETA 203.

5. Action Requested. States must cease the use of a sampling methodology to produce their
ETA 203 report beginning with reports submitted for August 2011. States should prepare the
report using all regular state program weeks claimed that are filed in the week containing the
19th day of the month. State administrators should distribute this advisory to appropriate staff.

6. Inquires. Questions should be addressed to your Regional Office.