Forge Shop Workers

Employers

According to the Forging Industry Association (FIA), approximately 45,000 people are employed in the industry in the United States and Canada. Most forging plants are small businesses that generally have between 50 and 500 employees, with a few larger facilities with over 1,000 workers. Plants are primarily located in large Midwest cities, as well as in Los Angeles, Houston, and Pittsburgh. The FIA reports the largest forging sector—custom forging—"accounts for over $6 billion dollars in sales annually. These custom forgings are produced by about 250 forging companies in approximately 300 plants across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico."

Starting Out

If you wish to work in a forge shop, apply directly to the shop's personnel department. Most forge shop workers start out as helpers on hammer or press crews and learn by working with more experienced employees. As they become more skillful, they are given more responsibility and more complicated tasks.

Job leads and information about apprenticeships may be obtained by contacting local offices of the state employment service or local offices of labor unions that organize these workers.