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.
Nonemployer Establishment
Related Terms
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.
CES (Current Employment Statistics)
WorkforceA 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.
Load Ramp
WorkforceA gradual increase in work volume or crew deployment at the start of a project or contract. Subcontractors use load ramps to scale up equipment, labour, and invoicing in a controlled sequence. Understanding the ramp schedule helps avoid resource gaps and cash-flow shortfalls early in mobilisation.
Loaded Wage Rate
WorkforceAn employee's base hourly wage plus all associated costs the employer bears, such as payroll taxes, benefits, and insurance. Subcontractors use this figure to accurately price labour when bidding jobs or building crew budgets. Billing clients only the base wage without loading costs is a common cause of margin loss.
Independent Contractor
WorkforceA self-employed individual or company hired to complete specific work under contract, rather than as an employee. In field service, this covers most subcontractors supplying labour or specialised skills to operators and prime contractors. Independent contractors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and equipment.
Geofencing
WorkforceA virtual boundary set around a job site that triggers automatic alerts when workers or equipment enter or leave. Subcontractors use it to verify on-site attendance, automate timekeeping, and support accurate billing. It also helps clients confirm crew deployment without manual check-ins.
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
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
