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Metal Manufacturing

Forging Success for Georgia's Manufacturers

Why Georgia for Metal

Georgia’s 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 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

Georgia Leads

Business Climate

647

Metal Manufacturing Locations

GPC Economic Development, 2025

2nd

State for Projected Job Growth

Lightcast 2025.4Q

$6.2B

Metal Manufacturing GRP

Lightcast 2025.4Q

Recent Metal Locations in Georgia

Over the last five years, 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.

JS Link America Inc. to Create More than 500 Jobs in Columbus

In September 2025, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that JS Link America Inc. will invest about $223 million to establish a rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing facility in Columbus. The new facility will create more than 520 new jobs in Muscogee County.

“From day one, Georgia's economic development team, local community leadership in Columbus, and Georgia Power all welcomed JS Link with a pro-business approach. Georgia's universities with their engineering programs also provide ready-made labor force for JS Link America." Mr. Jun Y. Lee, CEO of JS Link America Inc.

Source: "Gov Kemp: Korean Magnet Facility to Create More than 500 Jobs in Columbus," Georgia.gov, 9.3.2025.

Industry Snapshot

Georgia’s metal companies manufacture everything from building materials to metal cans to composites used in transportation equipment and jewelry. 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:

  • Fabricated Metal: Architectural & Structural Metal Product, Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt, Other Fabricated Metal Product
  • Primary Metal: Nonferrous Metal, Alumina and Aluminum Production and Procession, and Steel Product Manufacturing

Top Employers

Georgia's metal manufacturers supply a variety of industries, including metal for automotive and heavy equipment manufacturers.

  • Southwire: 3,190 employees
  • ADMARES: 1,400 employees
  • Price Industries: 1,100 employees
  • Minebea AccessSolutions USA Inc: 700 employees
  • Janus International Group: 660 employees
  • GLOCK Inc: 650 employees

Workforce

About Talent

46,940

Metal Manufacturing Jobs

Lightcast 2025.4Q

13%

Projected Job Growth (2025-2035)

Lightcast 2025.4Q

$22.04

Median Hourly Earnings

Lightcast 2025.4Q

Explore Your Workforce

Discover your community's readiness for metal manufacturing by exploring existing industry-related talent close to home.

Local Talent

Talent Critical to Metal Manufacturing

Based on staffing patterns for the metal manufacturing industry, Georgia has an abundance of workers employed in critical occupations. The graphs to the left illustrate the character of Georgia's metal manufacturing talent. Occupations include:

  • General and Operations Managers
  • Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
  • Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • Welders, Cutter, Solderers, and Brazers

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 metal manufacturing wages are no exception.

  • Projected growth of 13% in metal manufacturing industry employment over the next decade compared to 1% nationally.
  • Median hourly earnings of $22.04 compared to $23.41 nationally (based on top 10 metal staffing pattern occupations).

Industry Support

92K

Industry-Relevant Graduates (2020-2024)

Lightcast 2025.4Q

#2

Leading Workforce Training Program

Area Development, 2025

22

Technical Colleges

TCSG, 2025

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 2014, there has been a 34% increase in the number of graduates skilled in supporting Georgia's fabricated metal manufacturing operations.
  • Georgia Tech ranks 4th for engineering R&D funding nationally and has benefited from a 88% uptick in R&D funding since 2014.

Metal Industry Overview

Metal Manufacturing in Georgia

New Business Recruitment Services

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Support for Communities

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Explore Talent

Looking for talent near you? Use our tools to find local talent in select industries.