More North American steelmakers have announced layoffs as the grim economic and automotive market conditions continue to negatively impact the industry.
US Steel announced Thursday that it will layoff 500 workers in the US and 175 in Canada. US operations that will be affected include its Edgar Thomson and Irvin plants near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Gary Works in Gary, Indiana; Midwest Plant in Portage, Indiana; Great Lakes Works in Ecorse and River Rouge, Michigan, Granite City Works in Granite City, Illinois; and Fairfield Works in Fairfield, Alabama.
The company's layoffs in Canada affect workers at Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario and Hamilton Works in Hamilton, Ontario.
Company spokesperson John Armstrong told press, "We're forced to adjust our work force to match our production levels. When the jobs will come back is dependent on when we see customer demand strengthening."
AK Steel's Coshocton Works also announced Thursday that it laid off 34 workers. This came two days after the company announced it was temporarily idling facilities in Mansfield, Ohio and Ashland, Kentucky. AK Steel's products are primarily used in the automotive industry.
A couple of smaller steel producers also reported layoffs Thursday - Alton Steel, which will layoff 41 workers in Alton, Illinois, and Charter Manufacturing, which also primarily serves the automotive industry, and will cut a total of 155 jobs at its plants in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.