Steel mill hiring for a jillion jobs

Sault Ste. Marie's once-troubled steelmaker is embarking on another hiring spree, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. directors learned at their monthly meeting Monday.

The fortunes of Essar Steel Algoma Inc. have improved sufficiently that the company is looking for permanent and contract headhunters to help recruit all the professional staff, production workers and skilled tradespeople it's going to need to cover expected retirements.

Dan Hollingsworth, EDC's executive director of business development, pointed out that Algoma's website is currently seeking applications from production operators, ironworkers, machinists, metal fabricators (fitters), electrical lineworkers, hoisting engineers, stationary engineers, bricklayers, fitter/welders, mechanical maintenance technicians and electrical maintenance technicians.

"The company is making some excellent product that we promote to some of our clients. They're hiring highly skilled people," Hollingsworth said.

"From my understanding from talking to others at the steel mill, they're looking to hire many more positions in the months ahead."

Brenda Stenta, Algoma's manager of communications and branding, confirms the hiring campaign.

"We do... have a large number of pending retirements and we are actively recruiting for a broad range of positions including various trades, engineers, information technology and human resources professionals, operating and construction supervisors," Stenta tells SooToday.

"Many of the job opportunities can be found on our website and interested candidates are invited to create a personal profile so that we can alert them when a suitable opportunity becomes available."

Hollingsworth started his presentation to EDC members Monday by announcing, perhaps prematurely, that Algoma is "looking to re-start" its 65-year-old No. 6 blast furnace.

The company is less sure about that.

"While we have considered the possibility of starting up No. 6 blast furnace, there are many variables to consider and no decision has been made at this time, nor do we expect a decision in the immediate future," Stenta told SooToday.

After being mothballed for more than a decade, the smaller secondary No. 6 furnace was briefly re-started in 2008 after a $40-million upgrade.

In 2015, the steelmaker said that re-starting the No. 6 furnace would increase hot metal production by one million tons and add upwards of 200 new jobs.