Employment And Production Statistics For Iron Operations In The United States In 2023, By State

This table presents detailed employment and production data for iron operations across various U.S. states in 2023, highlighting the number of active operations, workforce size, and quantities of crude ore, iron ore, and iron metallics produced. Additionally, it provides the average iron content percentage for mined materials where available. This information is critical for understanding the scale and economic impact of iron mining within the country, as iron ore is a fundamental raw material for steel manufacturing, which supports numerous industries including construction, automotive, and infrastructure development. Tracking these metrics helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and analysts gauge regional mining activity, labor market trends, and resource availability.

Analysis of the data reveals that Minnesota leads in iron ore production with 101 million metric tons of crude ore and 35.2 million metric tons of iron ore, supported by six active operations and a workforce of 3,870 employees. Michigan follows with substantial output, producing 22.3 million metric tons of crude ore and 8.19 million metric tons of iron ore, employing 805 workers. Utah, with a smaller workforce of 138, produced 2.84 million metric tons of crude ore and 1.3 million metric tons of iron ore, maintaining a high average iron content of 62.6%. Notably, states such as Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas reported iron metallics production without corresponding crude ore or iron ore data, indicating these facilities may focus on processing or internal consumption rather than mining. Overall, the U.S. iron sector operated 12 active operations employing 4,810 workers, producing a total of 126 million metric tons of crude ore and 44.7 million metric tons of iron ore, with an average iron content of 63.1%, underscoring the country’s robust iron mining capacity in 2023.