Years ago, if someone talked about a field worker, they would mean someone working in an actual field. These workers had agriculture jobs and could be found on a farm, working a plow, forking hay, and tending to animals.
Nowadays the term “field worker” has grown to encompass not only agriculture employees, but any employee whose job demands that they work from outside of a traditional office setting.
While the term may be relatively new, the jobs they refer to are not. In this guide we’ll discuss what is a field worker, how they differ from office and remote workers, and how companies can adapt their training strategies to better support these critical team members.
What is a field worker?
A field worker is anyone who performs their job outside of a traditional office setting. Agricultural fields might come to mind first, but the broad definition includes various roles and industries.
Today, the term “field worker,” meaning individuals ranging from home healthcare providers, to construction workers putting up skyscrapers, or salespersons who travel to meet clients, encompasses a diverse range of professions.
Many of these jobs that fall under the definition of a field worker —agriculture workers, doctors, police officers, firefighters, seafarers, miners— have been around for a very long time.
Advancements in technology and evolving business needs have shifted how we understand the role of field employees, and have also blurred the lines between physical and digital work spaces. Nowadays, remote work has become commonplace, or the practice of working from a location outside of a traditional office environment, typically facilitated by digital communication tools and internet connectivity, allowing employees to perform their job duties from home, co-working spaces, or any other location.
But remote workers are not to be confused with field workers. Think of the difference like this: remote workers have the option to work away from traditional office settings, as a result of advancements in technology. Meanwhile, field workers do their jobs outside of traditional office settings because the nature of their work requires them to do so.
Who are field workers in different industries?
Food and beverage industry
The food and beverage industry relies on field workers who ensure that dining and food service operations run smoothly. These individuals are the backbone of restaurants, cafes, and delivery services, directly impacting the customer experience through their roles.
- Cooks prepare and cook food items, ensuring quality and compliance with recipes.
- Servers provide customer service, take orders, and serve food and beverages to guests.
- Bartenders mix and serve drinks to customers, manage the bar area, and engage with customers.
- Delivery drivers ensure timely and safe delivery of food items from restaurants to customers’ doorsteps.
Healthcare industry
The healthcare sector relies on a broad array of field workers who provide essential services and care to patients in various settings.
- Doctors and nurses offer diagnosis, treatment, and care in hospitals, clinics, and patients’ homes.
- EMTs and paramedics provide emergency medical services and transportation for patients in need of urgent care.
- Caregivers offer daily care and support to older adults or individuals with disabilities, ensuring their well-being.
Manufacturing industry
In manufacturing, field workers contribute to the production, design, and distribution of products. These roles are critical for the seamless operation and safety in manufacturing.
- Engineers design and optimize production processes and products.
- Production workers operate machinery, assemble products, and monitor quality control.
- Machine operators manage and maintain the machinery used in the production process.
- Supply chain managers oversee the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to distributing finished products.
Retail industry
Retail field workers are essential for the operation of brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce fulfillment, and customer service.
- Sales clerks assist customers, manage inventory, and process sales transactions.
- Cashiers handle cash transactions, customer needs, and checkout processes.
- Managers oversee store operations, staff management, and customer service.
Construction industry
Companies in the contracting and construction industry are among those most significantly impacted by the labor shortage. Some common jobs include:
- Foremen who supervise and direct teams of builders during construction.
- Roofers who install, repair, and replace building roofs.
- Surveyors who measure and map plots of land in preparation for construction projects
And the list goes on. In many industries field workers are at the heart of daily operations. The diversity and complexity of their roles underscore the importance of proper tools and technical training that enhance their efficiency, knowledge, and connectivity while they work in the field.
The unique training needs of field workers
Because of where they operate, field workers have unique training needs that differ from those of their office-based counterparts. Understanding these differences is critical in developing an effective training program for the specific demands of your deskless employees.
Training challenges for field workers vs. office employees
Field workers often operate in dynamic, unpredictable environments that demand high adaptability and practical skill. In contrast, office staff typically work in more controlled settings where digital tools and stable internet access support their training and daily tasks.
This fundamental difference means a training approach for field workers must prioritize flexibility and accessibility. Field roles frequently require hands-on training to safely and effectively perform physical tasks— a need less common in office settings.
Insights on deskless employee preferences
Research by TalentCards surveyed 900 managers responsible for onboarding field workers to uncover insights about the challenges that these managers are facing, as well as what preferences these employees have when it comes to training.
Forty percent of onboarding managers say that access to smartphones or tablets would help speed up the onboarding process, but only 17% currently use them.
Further research also revealed a clear appreciation for the autonomy offered by field work. Field workers reported a strong preference for their roles over office jobs.
When asked, the majority of deskless employees (64%) stated they would not switch to desk jobs for the same pay and benefits, emphasizing the appeal of field work beyond monetary compensation.
The preference for field workers to remain where they are shows the importance of creating strong training to increase retention. Focusing on flexibility, practical skills development, and mobile accessibility is key.
Fundamental differences in training
Field workers’ training is different from that of office employees in both content and delivery method. Findings from a TalentCards study highlight these differences:
- Skill gap challenge: A staggering 72% of onboarding managers report difficulty finding deskless employees with the necessary skills, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive training programs tailored to bridge these gaps.
- Technology adoption: Upon completing onboarding, 14% have no training material to access after the fact, and 28% only have paper copies of their material to reference back to.
- Retention through training: 63% of deskless employees stated that access to additional training would help them feel more connected to their company’s mission. Targeted and relevant training can play a critical role in employee retention.
The unique training needs of field workers demand a distinct approach that addresses the practical challenges of their roles and leverages technology to provide flexible, accessible learning opportunities.
By understanding and acting on the preferences of deskless workers, employers can enhance job satisfaction, improve skill levels, and, ultimately, retain valuable employees in these critical roles.
The benefits of mobile training platforms for field workers
Leveraging the power of smartphones and tablets allows mobile training platforms to meet the needs of workers in the field. This innovative way of training enhances the effectiveness of training programs, and aligns with the evolving needs of the workforce.
Here are some of the most impactful benefits of mobile training for field workers:
1. Accessibility
Forty eight percent of onboarding managers said new hires lack the skills needed to do their job at the time of their hiring. Furthermore, 27% need help sharing training materials that new hires can access on the go.
One of the top benefits of mobile training platforms is their ability to provide training anytime, anywhere. Field workers need increased accessibility due to their varying schedules and work locations.Increasing accessibility improves engagement and retention for difficult-to-fill positions.
By providing these employees with a training platform that was actually designed and built for them, your company tangibly demonstrates that it’s invested in their learning and development.
2. Increased engagement
Mobile training platforms are designed for field employees’ on-the-go nature. Interactive, bite-sized learning modules make learning more engaging and memorable. Multimedia content like videos, quizzes, flashcard sets, and gamification only adds to this. The goal is to keep them engaged and not overwhelmed.
3. Consistency
Consistency and continuous learning can be challenging when you have a distributed workforce that covers multiple locations. Mobile training platforms address this issue by providing standardized training materials that are accessible worldwide anytime.
Thirty two percent of deskless employees recall less than half of their training one month after completing it, underscoring the importance of continuous access to learning resources to counter the forgetting curve.
4. Real-time updates
The nature of field operations often means there’s a need to share immediate updates and critical information. Mobile training platforms allow you to push real-time updates directly to your field workers’ devices. With this, safety messages of the day and toolbox talk topics are easy to send out, as well as updates on operational changes.
Deliver training right to field workers’ smartphones with a powerful mobile app
FAQs
What is a field employee?
A field employee is someone who works outside a traditional office setting. Their job requires them to be directly in the field. They are found in many industries, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation. Their physical presence is necessary at various locations.
What is the meaning of a field work job?
A field work job is any work not done in a traditional office setting. For example, a doctor in a hospital, a cashier at a retail store, or a forklift operator in a warehouse are all instances of field workers.
What is a synonym for fieldworker?
A synonym for fieldworker is field employee or field staff. The term field worker is sometimes also used interchangeably with the word deskless worker, or mobile employee.
Empowering the future of field workers
Field workers often do the thankless jobs that we take for granted, ensuring that our day to day lives run smoothly. This fact, coupled with the rising skill and labor shortage in many industries that rely on deskless employees are reasons enough to invest in mobile training solutions for these employees.
Embracing individualized training approaches and doubling down on the advantages that mobile training has to offer benefit both your employees as individuals, and your business as a whole.
Key takeaways
- The meaning of field workers and field employees has changed over time, extending far beyond agriculture workers in actual fields. Today field workers are people whose jobs demand that they do their work outside of traditional office settings.
- The majority of field employees enjoy being out in the field, and wouldn’t trade their jobs for office jobs, even if given the same pay and benefits.
- Investing in mobile training for field employees ensures that they have access to critical job info no matter where the job takes them. A mobile learning app provides a knowledge repository that fits in your employees’ pockets, and is even accessible offline.
Create training your employees can access from anywhere with TalentCards
