A monthly U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics survey tracking payroll employment across industries, including oil and gas and construction. Subcontractors use CES data to benchmark labour market trends and adjust crew hiring strategies. Rising CES numbers in your sector often signal tighter labour pools and upward wage pressure.
Current Employment Statistics (ces)
Related Terms
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.
Dispatch
WorkforceThe process of assigning and deploying field crews or equipment to a job site. For subcontractors, dispatch timing affects mobilisation costs, crew scheduling, and billable hours. Clear dispatch records also support accurate invoicing and dispute resolution.
Frac Crew
WorkforceA specialised team deployed to perform hydraulic fracturing operations at a well site. For subcontractors, frac crews represent high-demand, time-sensitive engagements with strict headcount and certification requirements. Crew size and composition directly affect your labour costs, scheduling, and invoicing structure.
Floater
WorkforceA skilled tradesperson or technician not assigned to a fixed crew or project, deployed where needed on short notice. Subcontractors often bill floaters at a premium rate due to their flexibility and quick availability.
Hydraulic Fracturing Crew
WorkforceA specialised team deployed to pump high-pressure fluid into a wellbore to stimulate production. For subcontractors, these crews are typically mobilised on short-term contracts tied to a frac campaign schedule. Crew size, certifications, and equipment requirements are usually dictated by the operating company or prime contractor.
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.
Latest Workforce News
Three Teams Prequalify for Ontario Science Facility Complex in Oakville
Infrastructure Ontario has prequalified three design-build-finance-maintain teams for a new science facility complex in Oakville, with an RFP expected this fall and a winner named in late 2027.
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Energy services employment fell in June across the U.S. and Texas after three straight months of gains, though industry data shows the workforce has remained stable through the first half of 2026.
4 days agoWorkforceUK Launches Cross-Skill Program for Oil, Gas and Offshore Wind Technicians
The ECITB has rolled out a six-week training program letting oil and gas technicians move between offshore hydrocarbons and offshore wind maintenance while retaining their original qualifications.
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Public Service Company of Oklahoma sent close to 70 line and service crews to Shreveport to help restore power for sister utility Southwestern Electric Power Company.
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No oilfield experience? No problem. Learn which certifications, service lines, and job boards actually get tradespeople and CDL holders hired.
Workforce GuideFrom the Field to the Office: What Oilfield Workers Should Know Before Making the Switch
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