A monthly U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics survey tracking employment, hours, and earnings across industries. Field service subcontractors use CES data to benchmark wage rates and spot labour market trends. It helps inform bid pricing and crew cost projections in competitive markets.
CES (Current Employment Statistics)
Related Terms
Crew Utilization
WorkforceThe percentage of available crew hours that are billable or actively deployed on a job. Low utilisation means workers are on standby or idle, cutting into margins. Subcontractors track this metric to assess workforce efficiency and bid future projects accurately.
Fly-In/fly-Out (fifo)
WorkforceA rotation model where workers are flown to remote job sites for a set number of days, then returned home. Subcontractors must account for mobilisation costs and crew availability when bidding FIFO contracts. Rotation schedules vary widely, such as 14 days on and 14 days off.
CLRC (Construction Labor Research Council)
WorkforceA U.S. research organisation that tracks and publishes construction labour wage rates and collective bargaining data. Subcontractors use CLRC reports to benchmark labour costs and support bid pricing on union projects.
Man Camp
WorkforceA temporary, employer-provided housing facility for workers on remote oil and gas or construction sites. Subcontractors must confirm whether camp access is included in their contract or billed separately. Costs and availability directly affect crew mobilisation planning and bid pricing.
Spare Capacity
WorkforceThe portion of a subcontractor's available workforce, equipment, or service hours that is not currently committed to active contracts, representing untapped revenue potential that can be offered to clients on short notice or used to absorb surge demand without turning down work.
Peak Shaving
WorkforceStrategically deploying extra crews or equipment during high-demand periods to prevent project bottlenecks. Subcontractors are often called in specifically for peak shaving when primary workforces are stretched. It creates short-term contract opportunities but requires rapid mobilisation.
Latest Workforce News
Energy Services Sector Adds Jobs for Third Straight Month in May
U.S. energy services employment reached 633,115 positions in May, marking three consecutive months of job growth and adding more than 8,000 jobs since January, according to the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.
7 days ago WorkforceOilfield Services Sector Added Nearly 1,900 Jobs in March, Data Shows
U.S. oilfield services employment climbed to 627,018 jobs in March, up 1,877 positions from February, according to new Energy Workforce & Technology Council data. Here's what the hiring uptick means for subcontractors competing for crews and contracts.
2 months ago WorkforcePermian Gas Prices Go Negative as Flaring Surges and Downstream Shortages Grow
Natural gas prices in Texas have turned negative in some areas, forcing producers to flare excess supply while other markets face shortages. Here's what that pricing disconnect means for field service subcontractors.
2 months ago WorkforceEnergy Services Jobs Fall for Third Straight Month in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma
U.S. energy services employment dropped to 624,149 in February, with Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma posting the steepest declines. Field service companies are being warned to plan for continued workforce contraction.
2 months agoRelated Guides
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Workforce GuideWhen Your Crew's Behaviour Becomes a Business Problem: Managing Field Conduct on Active Subcontracts
What subcontractors are liable for when field personnel create conflict on a GC-managed site, and how to protect your contracts before it becomes a termination issue.
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