Primary Metal Manufacturing: NAICS 331
About the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector
The primary metal manufacturing subsector is part of the manufacturing sector.
Industries in the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector smelt and/or refine ferrous and nonferrous metals from ore, pig or scrap, using electrometallurgical and other process metallurgical techniques. Establishments in this subsector also manufacture metal alloys and superalloys by introducing other chemical elements to pure metals. The output of smelting and refining, usually in ingot form, is used in rolling, drawing, and extruding operations to make sheet, strip, bar, rod, or wire, and in molten form to make castings and other basic metal products.
North American Industry Classification System
The primary metal manufacturing subsector consists of these industry groups:
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing: NAICS 3311
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel: NAICS 3312
- Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing: NAICS 3313
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing: NAICS 3314
- Foundries: NAICS 3315
Workforce Statistics
This section provides information relating to employment and unemployment in primary metal manufacturing.
While most data are obtained from employer or establishment surveys, information on industry unemployment comes from a national survey of households.
The following tables present an overview of the industry including
the number of jobs,
the unemployment rate of those previously employed in the industry,
mass layoffs,
data for occupations common to the industry,
and projections of occupational employment change.
Employment, Unemployment, and Layoffs
(Source: Current Employment Statistics, Current Population Survey, Mass Layoff Statistics)
Extended Mass Layoffs
(Source: Mass Layoff Statistics)
Employment by Occupation
Data series |
Employment, 2011 |
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
11,840 |
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
17,490 |
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers |
12,570 |
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders |
15,700 |
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
11,890 |
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
17,810 |
(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)
Projections
For projected (future) employment estimates, see the National Employment Matrix, which includes employment estimates by industry and occupation for primary metal manufacturing.
(Source: Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections)
Earnings and Hours
This section presents data on employee earnings and weekly hours.
The latest industry averages of hourly earnings and weekly hours are shown.
In addition, recent hourly and annual earnings are shown for occupations commonly found in primary metal manufacturing.
Earnings and Hours of All Employees
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
Earnings and Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
Earnings by Occupation
Data series |
Wages, 2011 |
Hourly |
Annual |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
$15.13 |
$15.75 |
$31,480 |
$32,750 |
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
$26.90 |
$27.88 |
$55,960 |
$58,000 |
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers |
$17.33 |
$17.93 |
$36,050 |
$37,300 |
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders |
$18.75 |
$19.35 |
$39,010 |
$40,240 |
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
$15.68 |
$16.11 |
$32,610 |
$33,510 |
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
$19.19 |
$19.63 |
$39,910 |
$40,830 |
(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)
Work-related Fatalities, Injuries, and Illnesses
This section presents data for the industry on the number of workplace fatalities and the rates of workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in primary metal manufacturing. An injury or illness is considered to be work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition.
(Source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities)
Prices
This section provides industry-specific pricing information. The producer price index measures the percentage change in prices that domestic producers receive for goods and services. The prices included in the producer price index are from the first commercial transaction. The import price index reflects the percentage change in prices paid to foreign producers for their goods and services within the U.S., while the export price index measures the percentage change in prices received by U.S. producers for goods and services sold outside the U.S.
Data series |
Back data |
May 2012 |
Jun. 2012 |
Jul. 2012 |
Aug. 2012 |
Producer price index |
|
211.3 |
208.4 |
204.6 |
202.0 |
Percent change from previous month |
|
-0.9% |
-1.4% |
-1.8% |
-1.3% |
Import index |
|
179.9 |
173.9 |
170.8 |
168.8 |
Percent change from previous month |
|
-1.6% |
-3.3% |
-1.8% |
-1.2% |
Export index |
|
174.0 |
168.8 |
167.8 |
165.5 |
Percent change from previous month |
|
-1.4% |
-3.0% |
-0.6% |
-1.4% |
(Source: Producer Price Indexes, International Price Program)
Workplace Trends
This section presents data on the number of establishments in primary metal manufacturing. Also included in this section is information on productivity, presented as the rate of change in output per hour of workers in the industry.
Establishments
Data series |
Back data |
2nd quarter 2011 |
3rd quarter 2011 |
4th quarter 2011 |
1st quarter 2012 |
Number of establishments |
|
Private industry |
|
5,709 |
5,733 |
5,707 |
5,616 |
(Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)
Productivity
(Source: Productivity and Costs)
Other BLS Resources
Career Guide to Industries
See steel manufacturing in the Career Guide to Industries.
Data extracted on:
September 27, 2012