Field-to-Office Ratio

The percentage of available hours that crews or equipment are actively billable to a client. A low utilisation rate signals idle resources eating into margins. Subcontractors track this metric to assess workforce efficiency and bid competitiveness.

When a client or prime contractor withholds earned pay from field workers or subcontractors through unpaid overtime, illegal deductions, or misclassified labour. It exposes subcontractors to legal liability if it occurs within their own crew management. Provincial labour standards apply regardless of contract wording.

A business that generates revenue but has no paid employees — typically a sole proprietor or owner-operator. Many field subcontractors and independent tradespeople operate this way. Statistics Canada tracks these firms separately in labour and industry data.

A 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.

The percentage of available working hours that crews or equipment are actively billable to a client. A low utilisation rate signals idle resources draining overhead costs. Subcontractors track this metric closely to assess profitability across projects.

The transitional period between peak and slow seasons when project volumes drop and scheduling becomes unpredictable. Subcontractors often face reduced call-outs, crew utilisation gaps, and tighter margins during these windows. Common in oilsands and construction work between summer and winter campaigns.

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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.

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