How Investing in Talent Positions Us for What Comes Nextby Brian Diephuis

In January 2026, US companies announced more than 108,000 job cuts, the highest January total since 2009. Hiring intentions also dropped to their lowest level in 17 years.

That’s the reality across much of the market.

It’s not the path we’re taking.

Copper and Brass Sales, thyssenkrupp Engineered Plastics, thyssenkrupp Materials NA Canada, and Online Metals has continued hiring through 2024, 2025, and into 2026. While others are pulling back, we are intentionally investing in our workforce, our capabilities, and our ability to serve customers at a higher level.

This is not about short-term growth. It is about long-term readiness.

Since March 2024, we have added 432 positions across the US and Canada and introduced 27 new roles, including 19 in 2025 alone, our largest single-year expansion to date. These roles span sales, engineering, quality, production scheduling, operations, and other key areas that directly impact how we support our customers.

We are not simply adding headcount. We are strengthening capability.

When customers come to us, they are not just looking for material availability. They are looking for solutions to complex challenges, whether that involves precision fabrication, supply chain constraints, or the need to move faster with greater confidence.

Meeting those expectations requires more than inventory. It requires expertise, coordination, and the ability to execute.

That is why we continue to invest in building teams that can say yes with confidence.

Economic cycles are a constant in manufacturing and supply chain industries. During periods of uncertainty, it is common for organizations to slow hiring and limit investment to protect near-term performance.

While that approach can stabilize costs in the short term, it often creates longer-term gaps in capability, responsiveness, and technical depth.

We take a different approach.

By continuing to invest in talent and capability during these cycles, we position ourselves to respond faster, solve more complex problems, and support our customers more effectively as demand evolves.

It also allows us to strengthen the relationships that matter most. When customers know they can rely on us not just for supply, but for expertise and problem-solving, that creates lasting value.

Our continued growth reflects that commitment.

As we move through 2026, we will keep investing in our people, expanding our capabilities, and strengthening the foundation that supports our customers every single day.

For those looking to be part of a team that is growing with purpose and building for what comes next, there has never been a more exciting time to join us. With locations across North America that include opportunities in sales, operations, engineering, and corporate support, we ask you to explore our open positions and discover where your skills can make an impact as we enter our next phase of growth.

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