The 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.
Onboarding
Related Terms
Circadian Science
WorkforceThe study of how the body's internal clock affects alertness, performance, and safety during shift work. Subcontractors use it to design smarter rotation schedules that reduce fatigue-related incidents. Regulators increasingly reference circadian principles in hours-of-service and fatigue management requirements.
Nonemployer Establishment
WorkforceA 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.
Utilisation Rate
WorkforceThe 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.
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.
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.
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
Black & Veatch Survey: Aging Infrastructure and Staffing Gaps Signal Sustained Work Pipeline for Water Utility Subs
Black & Veatch's 2026 Water Report, drawing on more than 600 industry stakeholders, confirms aging infrastructure and workforce shortages as the defining pressures on U.S. water utilities, pointing to a long-term construction and maintenance backlog.
20 hours ago WorkforceSkilled Trades Shortage Is the Real Bottleneck in AI Infrastructure Buildout
The tech industry's data center ambitions are running headlong into a shortage of electricians, welders, and pipefitters. For field service companies, that's a market signal worth paying attention to.
20 hours ago WorkforceEnergy Services Sector Adds Jobs for Third Straight Month in May
U.S. energy services employment reached 633,115 positions in May, marking three consecutive months of job growth and adding more than 8,000 jobs since January, according to the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.
6 days ago WorkforceAutonomous Construction Equipment Is Moving From Trade Show Floor to Job Site
AI-powered machines and remote operation technology are reshaping how construction crews work. Here's what early-adopter field service companies are deploying and what it means for your workforce.
7 days agoRelated Guides
How to Hire and Retain Field Workers Without Raising Pay: The Complete Guide
Losing crew to competitors over small pay differences? Struggling to hire in a tight labor market? Here are the recruiting, onboarding, and non-wage retention strategies that actually keep oilfield and construction field workers from walking.
Workforce GuideWhen 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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews