Steel Mills
Retirement Surge Challenges Algoma to Fill Jobs
Written by Sandy Williams
August 12, 2017
Algoma is looking for 63 good people. With retirement looming for 25 percent of its workforce in the next three years, Algoma is looking to attract new employees for production positions that include general labor, production operations and production shipment.
“We have 700 employees eligible to retire today. As these people transition into retirement, there is a positive net new economic impact in our community – one collecting a pension, another collecting a salary,” said Jim Rennie, vice president human resources.
In the last 18 months, Algoma has hired 270 people into salaried, trades and production positions. “These are good, full-time career opportunities at very competitive wages. These are the kinds of jobs that support families and build communities,” said Rennie.
Steel Market Update asked Algoma spokesperson Brenda Stenta how the company is handling finding qualified applicants for open positions.
“As our demographics shift and employees transition into retirement, new opportunities are opening up for both entry-level and mid-career roles,” said Stenta. “In an effort to ensure we have qualified people in the pipeline, Algoma offers a very robust apprenticeship program, providing training in up to nine different trades.”
The company currently has 44 apprentices and 32 approved for entry into the program.
Algoma also offers a Graduate Engineer Trainee program designed to take high potential engineering graduates and develop them for careers in steel. Stenta said the company takes 8-10 graduate engineers on board each year. “Both of these programs have proven to be effective tools as we look to address succession planning across the organization,” she said.
Algoma currently has approximately 2,700 employees and more than 6,000 retirees. “Retirees continue to receive full pension and benefits during the restructuring process,” said Stenta.
Algoma said on its website that another 45 jobs in trades and professional job opportunities are also available.
Restructuring Update
Algoma has been under Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act protection since November 2015 and is currently in negotiations with the Debtor in Possession lenders to acquire the company. The company has received several extensions to its DIP financing and Stay of Proceedings. The current Stay of Proceedings expires Sept. 30, 2017. In its fourth and latest financing extension, the DIP agreement was extended through March 31, 2018.
“Stakeholder discussions are ongoing with the approved bidder, and we remain focused on making quality steel here at Algoma,” said Stenta.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
CRU: Blackout knocks out ArcelorMittal mill ‘for months’
Truchas works in Lazaro Cadenas, Michoacan, western Mexico. Repairs may take up to six months.
Nippon Steel posts quarterly loss on cost to buy U.S. Steel
Nippon Steel earnings take hit from buy of U.S. Steel.
Atlas completes Evraz NA deal, renames firm, and hires former USS exec as CEO
Atlas Holdings has completed its acquisition of Evraz North America (Evraz NA) and its subsidiaries.
ArcelorMittal: As tariffs slow global growth, Calvert could be a bright spot
ArcelorMittal expects less demand growth across most of the markets it operates in, including the US, because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But the Luxembourg-based steelmaker also thinks it stands to benefit from an increasingly regionalized world thanks to investments like the new EAF at its mill in Calvert, Ala.
Ternium posts solid Q2, expects further shipment growth
Latin American steel producer Ternium delivered a solid performance in the second quarter of 2025. Performance was driven primarily by higher realized steel prices in Mexico, even as shipment volumes declined slightly across its regional portfolio.