I worked in the Canadian oilpatch for 12 years. High pay, but the family life sucks. This is a decision for individuals/families to make. If firms want the workers, they have to pay a lot of money. If consumers want the product, they have to pay enough to pay the high wages of the workers. There's a lot of free choice.

Oilfield workers justify the sacrifice by the things they can buy with the extra money. Bigger house, pickup truck, other toys. Some actually do invest their funds. Workers in town do not have these life options.

The taxes just become part of the equation for that free choice. Most workers, quickly or eventually, assess their NET pay to make their decision whether to work in the oilpatch or not. Whether the marginal rate is 80% or 15%, the worker decides whether the net pay is enough to warrant forgoing the oilpatch working conditions--and just get a job in town.

There is no doubt in my mind that the consumer eventually pays the oilfield workers. Even in communist countries, oilfield workers made 2 or 3 times the regular wage.