A U.S. federal agency that tracks wage rates, employment trends, and labour costs by trade and region. Subcontractors use BLS data to benchmark crew rates and support bid pricing. It also publishes injury and fatality statistics relevant to oil and gas and construction fields.
BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Related Terms
Energy Workforce & Technology Council (ewtc)
WorkforceA U.S.-based industry association representing energy sector employers and workforce development initiatives. For subcontractors, it publishes training standards and competency frameworks used by operators to qualify field crews. Membership can signal credibility when bidding on contracts with major energy clients.
Back Wages
WorkforceUnpaid earnings owed to workers for hours already worked. For subcontractors, this often arises from payroll errors, misclassification, or disputed overtime on remote job sites. Unresolved back wage claims can trigger labour audits and project holdbacks.
Churn
WorkforceThe rate at which workers leave and must be replaced within a field crew or subcontractor roster. High churn drives up recruiting and onboarding costs, disrupts project continuity, and strains client relationships.
Registered Apprenticeship
WorkforceA provincially recognised training program combining paid on-the-job hours with technical schooling to certify tradespeople. Subcontractors hiring apprentices must meet regulated journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios on site. Completing the program earns workers a Red Seal or provincial trade certificate recognised across Canada.
SJT (Situational Judgment Test)
WorkforceA pre-hire assessment used to evaluate how candidates respond to realistic workplace scenarios. Operators and prime contractors use SJTs to screen field workers for safety judgement and decision-making. Subcontractors may encounter these tests when onboarding crews for client-managed worksites.
Rotational Worker
WorkforceA field worker employed on a fixed schedule of alternating work and rest periods, such as 14 days on and 14 days off. Subcontractors must account for rotation cycles when planning crew mobilisation and maintaining consistent headcount on site.
Latest Workforce News
Oil and Gas Extraction Employment Has Fallen in 7 of the Last 10 Years, BLS Data Shows
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveals oil and gas extraction employment dropped from 187,300 in January 2016 to 115,500 in January 2026, with the decline continuing into early 2026. Here's what the shrinking labor pool means for field service companies.
9 days ago WorkforceConstruction Labor Market Flatlines in Q1 2026, Signaling Trouble for Summer Hiring
Construction job openings fell 19% year-over-year in March while hiring remained subdued, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Economists say the stagnation signals soft demand and a cautious industry holding pattern.
yesterday WorkforceConstruction Job Openings Rebound but Hiring Remains "Extremely Subdued"
Construction job openings climbed 23,000 in March but remain well below year-ago levels, with an ABC economist warning that industry hiring is still at historically soft levels heading into summer.
2 days ago WorkforceOntario and Yukon Sign SMR Partnership, Opening Path to Remote Nuclear Power
Ontario Power Generation and Yukon Energy have agreed to collaborate on small modular reactor deployment, including potential applications at remote mines and off-grid communities.
10 days agoRelated Guides
From the Field to the Office: What Oilfield Workers Should Know Before Making the Switch
Thinking about moving from field work to an office role? This guide covers how your field experience translates into technical and operations positions, what the transition actually looks like, and the trade-offs most people do not talk about until it is too late.
Workforce GuideHow to Promote Field Leaders Without Losing Your Best Hands: Foreman and Supervisor Development for Growing Subcontractors
Promoting your best hand to foreman is one of the most important decisions a subcontractor makes. Get it wrong and you lose two people: a skilled producer and a failed supervisor. This guide covers how to identify the right candidates, make the transition, and build a leadership pipeline that does not gut your field capacity.
Workforce GuideHow to Hire and Retain Field Workers Without Raising Pay: The Complete Guide
Losing crew to competitors over small pay differences? Struggling to hire in a tight labor market? Here are the recruiting, onboarding, and non-wage retention strategies that actually keep oilfield and construction field workers from walking.
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