Fabricated Metal

Forging Success for Georgia's Manufacturers

Why Georgia for Fabricated Metal

Georgia’s fabricated metal industry is a major supplier to key industries around the state such as automotive, aerospace, energy and construction equipment. As these industries grow, the fabricated metal industry expands its employment and gross state product (GSP) to keep up with the demand.

Strong manufacturing and construction industries
Well-developed R&D market
Highly-skilled workers
Renowned workforce training program
Excellent accessibility to market
Business-friendly environment

DIRTT Success Story

1,431

Fabricated Metal Manufacturing Locations

Georgia Department of Labor 2021 Annual

$57,832

Average Earnings Per Job

Lightcast, 3rd Q 2022

$3.5B

Fabricated Metal GRP

Lightcast, 3rd Q 2022

Recent Fabricated Metal Locations in Georgia

Over the last five years, fabricated metal companies have continued to grow and expand in Georgia. Surges in electric vehicle manufacturing operations in the Southeast will drive supplier migration to the region. In 2020, GEDIA Automotive Group announce plans to move to Georgia to be closer to its customers.

German Automotive Parts Manufacturer GEDIA to Locate First Southeast U.S. Site in Whitfield County

In July 2020, German-based GEDIA chose Whitfield County for its next U.S. operation. GEDIA specializes in making state-of-the-art automotive parts, with the new Whitfield County plant focusing on parts for electric vehicles.

“This project is an essential step into the future for GEDIA, and we are delighted to be taking this step with the State of Georgia. Moving closer to the original equipment manufacturers allows us to serve the American market even better. In addition, our new innovative production facility with 200 planned positions not only increases the value of our company, but also contributes to the ongoing development of Whitfield County.”

Markus Schaumburg, CEO GEDIA Automotive Group

Source: " German Automotive Parts Manufacturer GEDIA to Locate First Southeast U.S. Site in Whitfield County, Create 200 Jobs," Georgia Governor's Office Press Release, July 24, 2020

Industry Snapshot

Georgia’s fabricated metal companies manufacture everything from building materials to metal cans to composites used in transportation equipment and jewelry. Fabricated metal manufacturers seeking to expand or locate in Georgia can rely on the state’s robust and growing manufacturing and construction industries to drive demand for their products.

Top sectors include:

Architectural & Structural Metal Product
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt
Other Fabricated Metal Product

Top Employers

Major heavy equipment manufacturers as well as prominent suppliers make up Georgia's largest fabricated metal employers.

Southwire: Carrollton, 2,800 employees
Caterpillar Inc. Building Construction Products: Athens, 1,500 employees
Kubota Manufacturing of America: Gainesville, 1,400 employees
Meggitt Polymers & Composites: Rockmart, 1,100 employees
Textron Specialized Vehicles: Augusta, 1,100 employees
Kubota Industrial Equipment Corp.: Jefferson, 1,000 employees
Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas: Monroe, 900 employees

34,800

Fabricated Metal Industry Jobs

Lightcast, 3rd Q 2022

6th

State for Growth in Talent Base

Lightcast, 3rd Q 2022

$17.91

Median Hourly Earnings

Lightcast, 3rd Q 2022

Quality Talent for Less

Georgia is known for its high-quality affordable workforce. Wage rates in the state typically fall below the national average, particularly in manufacturing occupations. The state’s fabricated metal manufacturing wages are no exception.

Projected growth of 22% in fabricated metal manufacturing industry employment over the next decade compared to 5% nationally
Median hourly earnings of $17.91 compared to $18.73 nationally (based on top 15 fabricated metal staffing pattern occupations)

88k

Metal Fab Related Graduates (2017-2020)

IPEDS, 2020

#1

Leading Workforce Training Program

Area Development, 2022

22

Technical Colleges

TCSG, 2022

The People and Support Needed to Succeed

Georgia's high concentration of degree-seeking students and top-tier colleges and universities make the state one of the country’s richest in top-level talent. These institutions also offer companies access to cutting-edge research and development partnerships.

Since 2016, there has been a 9% increase in the number of graduates skilled in supporting Georgia's fabricated metal manufacturing operations.
Georgia Tech ranks 2nd for engineering R&D funding nationally and has benefited from a 36% uptick in engineering R&D funding since 2010.