Ascension Parish Steel Mill Plans Largest Hiring Surge for 2028
According to businessreport.com, the $5.8 billion Ascension Parish steel mill being developed by Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel anticipates its peak recruitment period in 2028, at which point the firm intends to bring on hundreds of manufacturing personnel and expand its total staff to approximately 1,000 workers. The massive steel mill planned at the RiverPlex MegaPark near Donaldsonville aims to produce automotive steel using electric arc furnace technology to supply Hyundai’s U.S. vehicle manufacturing operations.
HPLS plans to employ 1,400 people by 2029
Per an email from company representatives, HPLS intends to onboard 230 to 300 staff members before the conclusion of 2027 prior to ramping up recruitment the following year. Before the Donaldsonville-area site launches manufacturing operations in 2029, several hundred additional personnel are anticipated to come aboard. “The biggest hiring wave will be in 2028, when we’ll start adding production employees,” HPLS stated. “We plan to have about 1,000 employees on board by the end of that year.”
In the long run, the company projects a total headcount of about 1,400 workers at the location, with the majority assigned to manufacturing roles. Roughly one-quarter of the personnel—translating to approximately 350 staff members based on current projections—will be stationed in supply chain, maintenance, logistics, engineering, and administrative sectors including human resources, accounting, and talent development.
HPLS recruits for 40 positions through local training
HPLS recently began recruiting for nearly 40 positions across engineering, construction, infrastructure, materials management, and other fields. The company listed 37 positions through Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program when it announced the openings. While the company is placing a particular emphasis on developing a local pipeline to fill those jobs, officials did not specify how many employees they expect to recruit from Ascension Parish or elsewhere in Louisiana.
To prepare the local workforce, HPLS is working with local schools, colleges, and universities. River Parishes Community College offers specialized degree programs and certifications in electrical, instrumentation, and millwright disciplines, alongside dual-enrollment initiatives that provide high school students with process technology background as part of these measures. HPLS also plans on-site externships for high school and college students and internships for college students. Slated to debut in the spring of 2028, the RPCC-Hyundai Training Center is currently under development to prepare Ascension Parish and Westbank residents for employment opportunities at Hyundai Steel and other regional industries.
Steel mill construction awaits air permit
HPLS held a ceremonial groundbreaking on the steel mill near Donaldsonville in September. However, actual construction on the facility cannot begin until the project receives an air permit.
Ascension Parish Steel Mill FAQ
When will the Hyundai-POSCO steel mill begin production?
The facility is scheduled to begin production in 2029, following workforce expansion phases in 2027 and 2028.
How many total jobs will the facility create?
The company ultimately expects to employ roughly 1,400 people at the facility, with about 1,000 employees on board by the end of 2028.
What is the status of the construction project?
HPLS held a ceremonial start to construction near Donaldsonville in September, but work cannot begin until the project receives an air permit.
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