The truth about the Keystone XL Pipeline...

[kentauros]

10. Not many permanent ones, even with contractors

that do things like hazmat response and so forth. The people that build pipelines are pretty well established in the industry. Most are transient workers that go where the work is. They may have nice houses in that part of the country where they like to live, but they live on the road most of the time.

It's a highly specialized form of employment. There are generally little to no "laborers" on such jobs because there isn't any work for a general laborer. You have to be a construction person with a specific skill related to building, and burying, pipelines.