Occurs when two unrelated companies — such as a labour agency and a subcontractor — are considered co-employers of the same worker. Both parties may share legal responsibility for wages, overtime, and labour standards compliance. Field service firms must understand this to avoid unexpected liability for workers hired through third-party staffing arrangements.
Horizontal Joint Employment
Related Terms
Not Seasonally Adjusted
WorkforceRaw labour or economic data reported without smoothing for seasonal patterns. For subcontractors, this means figures reflect real hiring spikes and slowdowns, such as spring breakup or winter shutdowns. Use NSA data to benchmark your actual crew demand cycles.
Equipment Operator-Laborer
WorkforceA dual-role field worker who operates equipment and performs manual labour tasks on the same shift. Subcontractors use this classification to maximise crew flexibility and reduce headcount on smaller scopes. Billing rates and union rules may differ from single-trade classifications.
Workforce Accommodation
WorkforceTemporary housing arranged for field crews working at remote or industrial sites, such as labour camps or modular lodges. For subcontractors, accommodation costs may be billed separately or bundled into contract rates. Confirming who is responsible for these costs before mobilisation prevents disputes.
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.
Skilled Trades Pipeline
WorkforceA roster of pre-vetted tradespeople a subcontractor can mobilise quickly for upcoming projects. It includes workers at various certification levels, from apprentices to journeypersons. Maintaining a strong pipeline reduces downtime between contracts and supports rapid crew scaling.
BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
WorkforceA 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.
Latest Workforce News
Canada's Construction Labor Gap Set to Hit 34,000 Workers by 2035
A BuildForce Canada forecast covered by the Daily Commercial News shows construction employment rising through 2035, but retirements and slowing population growth will leave the industry short more than 30,000 nonresidential workers alone.
yesterdayWorkforceTexas Upstream Jobs Rise by 400 in June, TIPRO Data Shows
TIPRO reports Texas upstream oil and gas employment grew by 400 jobs in June 2026, with service sector gains offsetting a drop in extraction jobs.
5 days agoWorkforceABC-NJ's 106,000-Sq-Ft Training Center Offers Apprenticeship Model
Associated Builders and Contractors of New Jersey has opened a 106,000-square-foot Mount Laurel facility training 26 Department of Labor-approved trades under one roof, aiming to scale to more than 1,000 apprentices trained annually within five years.
6 days agoWorkforce36-Inch Water Main Break Prompts Conservation Push in West Hollywood
A ruptured 36-inch transmission main on Sunset Boulevard has LADWP crews working around the clock, with officials asking residents and businesses to conserve water during repairs.
7 days agoRelated Guides
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No oilfield experience? No problem. Learn which certifications, service lines, and job boards actually get tradespeople and CDL holders hired.
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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.
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