Census Wants to Link Workforce Data with Training Programs for Better Insights
Published Date: 10/1/2026
Notice
Summary
The Census Bureau is asking for approval to collect info from 230 workforce training groups linked to Manufacturing USA and two grant programs. This new data will help track how well these training programs work by connecting participant info with Census data. The goal? To make smarter decisions about future workforce investments without adding too much extra work—each group spends just 1-2 hours a year on this.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Participant Data Linked to Census to Inform Investments
Data collected from program participants will be linked to Census Bureau data sets (including demographic, household, and jobs data) and used by NIST and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to produce measurable metrics, evaluate long-term program performance, and support evidence-based decisions for future workforce investments.
230 Training Providers Asked to Report Annually
The Census Bureau plans to collect information from 230 workforce training groups each year: 100 Manufacturing USA Institutes (or affiliated providers), 60 Recompete grant recipients (or affiliates), and 70 Good Jobs Challenge 2 grant recipients (or affiliates). Respondents will spend about 1 hour annually for Recompete and Good Jobs Challenge 2 respondents and up to 2 hours annually for Manufacturing USA respondents, for a total estimated burden of 330 hours; participation is voluntary.
Legal Confidentiality Assurance for Collected Data
The notice states that confidentiality of the information is assured under 13 U.S.C. 9. This legal protection applies to the data the Census Bureau collects for this Workforce Development Collection.
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Key Dates
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Related Federal Register Documents
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2026-20155, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
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2026-18304, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Business Trends and Outlook Survey
2026-18176, Current Mandatory Business Surveys
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