Iron and steel industry employment in the U.S. 2016-2021

As of 2021, a total of around 143,000 people were employed in the iron and steel industry in the United States. This number had increased by five percent compared to the previous year when the total employment declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, employment in the iron and steel mills represented around 60 percent of the total employment in the sector, amounting to 86,000 workers.

The U.S. steel market trends downward

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the country's monthly crude steel demand decreased in 2020, reaching record lows from April to June of that year, when U.S. demand for crude steel was under five million metric tons. Trade played an important part in the U.S. steel industry that same year. The country continued its steel trade deficit but managed to narrow the gap slightly amid lower demand. Imports for consumption of steel products reached close to 17 billion U.S. dollars, with Canada being the main country of origin.

Employment in the sector

North Carolina-based Nucor was one of the world’s largest crude steel producers in 2020, producing around 22.69 million metric tons of the metal. The company's global number of employees climbed to some 26,800 people in 2019, with most of the company’s workforce being based in the U.S. Nucor was the leading steel producer in the country, followed by the U.S. Steel Corporation. In 2020, the U.S. Steel Corporation recorded 14,582 employees in North America.