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AK Steel's hiring plans were first reported in the Sunday, Aug. 23, edition, of the paper. Another update was reported in Monday's edition, Aug. 24.
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The Butler County steelmaker is holding a pair of job fairs this week in partnership with OhioMeansJobs in Butler and Warren counties to fill production job openings.
Job seekers who missed Tuesday’s job fair at the Butler County job center have another chance to apply today at the Warren County job center. Today’s job fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 26 at OhioMeansJobs-Warren County, located at 300 E. Silver St. in Lebanon.
Applications can also be submitted online by visiting www.applytoaksteel.com.
AK STEEL HIRING BY THE NUMBERS:
About 273 job hunters: That was the turnout for Tuesday's job fair held at the OhioMeansJobs center in Fairfield, which was greater than expected, said Melissa O'Brien, business services liaison for OhioMeansJobs-Butler. Applicants were waiting in line to speak to a company recruiter, she said.
So far, thanks to advertising, articles and the job fair, AK Steel told OhioMeansJobs staff it has received more than 1,000 applications.
“I think with that wage rate it was fairly attractive,” said Adam Jones, administrator of the Workforce Investment Board of Butler, Clermont and Warren Counties, which helps oversee job centers in each county.
Some applicants will be invited to complete math and reading testing before they’re contacted for an interview with AK Steel, Jones said.
“If there’s anyone who would like to see where they stand on basic math and reading skills we can provide them a free assessment (for practice),” he said.
50 to 100 job openings: AK Steel's Middletown Works steel plant, the company's largest steel plant, has immediate job openings for entry-level, full-time hourly production employees. Pay starts at $18.03 per hour, according to the company.
“Ongoing workforce requirements to meet the needs of the business require additional new hires at this time,” said AK Steel spokesman Barry Racey.
Most of the job openings are due to attrition such as retirements and turnover, Racey said.
Pay starts at $18.03 per hour plus shift differential, plus a $500 cash bonus after six months and $500 cash bonus after 18 months, according to AK Steel.
Qualifications to apply include a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants go through a pre-employment assessment process and test; followed by an interview for those who progress through the hiring process.
2,400 full-time workers: That's about how many people AK Steel currently employs in Butler County, making it the county's third largest employer behind Miami University and Cincinnati Financial Corp.
That figure includes employees at the company’s headquarters in West Chester Twp., the Middletown Works steel plant and a Middletown research center.
Altogether, AK Steel facilities in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota employ more than 8,000 people who produce flat-rolled carbon, electrical and stainless steels used by the automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets.
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