In January 2018, OMB gave the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) a three-year clearance to collect data through the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) -- Basic Labor Force through January 31, 2021
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201706-1220-002
On May 1, 2020, OMB approved a BLS request of April 20 to add five questions to the CPS between May and October 2020 on the effects of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) -- with the term of clearance that BLS cognitively test the questions in parallel with data collection.
https://www.aeaweb.org/forum/1540/covid-questions-monthly-current-population-survey-update
On May 18, BLS invited public comment on both the continuance of the CPS Basic Labor Force for three years and the continuance of the supplemental COVID-19 questions beyond October 2020. When BLS determines that the COVID-19 questions are no longer relevant to this data collection, it will submit a request to OMB for their removal.
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a revision of the Current Population Survey (CPS). This survey is being revised to temporarily add five questions to the Current Population Survey (CPS) to collect data on the effects of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the attempts to constrain the spread of the illness. These questions ask about responses to COVID-19 during the previous 4 weeks—specifically, whether respondents teleworked due to COVID-19, were unable to work because an employer closed or lost business, and were paid for hours not worked. A question for people not in the labor force will ask if respondents did not look for work in the previous 4 weeks because of COVID-19. In addition, respondents will be asked whether any household members needed non-coronavirus-related medical care in the previous 4 weeks but did not get it because of the pandemic.
May 18 Federal Register notice:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/18/2020-10561/information-collection-activities-comment-request
Public comments are due to BLS by July 17, 2020.
Point of contact: Dori Allard, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, BLS (202) 691-6470 Allard.Dorinda@bls.gov
