Types of Construction Field Labor

The two types of field labor involved in a construction project are direct and indirect labor.

Direct Labor is that substantial portion of the direct cost of the project and can be described as the labor which is engaged directly in specific construction tasks and which can be allocated to the construction of the project.  Direct labor usually includes all of the trade crafts and excludes all workforce supervisors and contractor’s personnel.

Indirect labor is a portion of the indirect cost of a project and is that labor which cannot be easily and conveniently allocated to the job, (i.e. specific construction task, process or production unit).  It represents labor which is not directly engaged in the construction of the facility but indirectly helps in its construction. In short, the labor which cannot be directly identified with a job, specific construction task, process or operation, is generally treated as indirect labor.  Examples of indirect labor are personnel employed as workforce supervisors, foremen, inspectors, maintenance workers such as workshop cleaners, mechanics and personnel engaged in purchasing, stores, factory office, time-keeping, workforce transportation, catering and workforce accommodation. 

The data and information contained in the book deals with the direct construction field labor productivity only during a contiguous construction schedule after mobilization and prior to demobilization and start-up.