The total cost of employing a field worker beyond their base wage, expressed as a percentage. It includes CPP (Canada Pension Plan), EI (Employment Insurance), WCB (Workers' Compensation Board) premiums, and benefits. Subcontractors must factor this rate into crew pricing to avoid underbidding contracts.
Labour Burden Rate
Related Terms
Onboarding
WorkforceThe process a subcontractor completes before starting work for a new client or general contractor. It typically includes submitting insurance, certifications, and banking details for payment setup. Delays in onboarding can push back mobilisation and hold up first invoices.
Planned Labour Percentage
WorkforceThe portion of a project's total budget allocated to labour costs, expressed as a percentage. Subcontractors use it to bid competitively and protect margins. Tracking it against actual labour spend reveals cost overruns early.
Retention Bonus
WorkforceA lump-sum payment offered to keep skilled field workers or subcontractors committed through a project's duration. It is typically paid at a set milestone or project completion. Primes use it to reduce crew turnover during long campaigns or tight labour markets.
Colocation
WorkforceWhen a subcontractor embeds personnel or equipment at a client's site for an extended engagement. This reduces mobilisation costs and improves response time for ongoing work. It is common on large construction or production sites requiring continuous support.
IRP (Integrated Resource Plan)
WorkforceA client's long-term plan outlining labour, equipment, and service needs across a project or portfolio. Subcontractors use it to forecast crew deployment and equipment commitments. It helps field service companies align capacity and bids with upcoming work cycles.
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.
Latest Workforce News
Prince Rupert Strike Threatens AltaGas Propane Exports
AltaGas posted record Q3 LPG exports, but a strike at neighboring Trigon and a labour board ruling are expected to slow shipments through Ridley Island in the months ahead.
20 hours agoWorkforceConocoPhillips Cuts Canada Staff and Contractors Effective Tuesday
ConocoPhillips told Canadian staff of a workforce reduction covering employees and contractors, effective Tuesday. The company did not disclose headcount, affected assets or spending plans.
3 days agoWorkforcePermian Frac Crews Hit 106 as DUC Inventory Drops 13%
Enverus counted 106 frac crews in the Permian as of Oct. 16, up from 93 a year earlier, while the basin's DUC inventory fell to 2,060 wells. Here is what it means for completions-related subcontractors.
3 days agoWorkforceUXO Clearance Shaped Work on 641-MW Bellefield Solar Build
The 3,080-acre Bellefield site near Mojave, Calif., was a former munitions depot, so unexploded ordnance scanning ran ahead of all ground disturbance. Here is what that means for survey, grading, pile and trenching subs.
4 days agoRelated Guides
When 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.
Workforce GuideHow to Get Your First Oilfield Job: A Practical Guide for Tradespeople and CDL Holders
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
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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews
