EXHIBIT 23

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS





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                                  EXHIBIT 23


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


     We consent to the  incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) of  Worthington  Industries,  Inc.  of our report  dated June 14,  1996,
included in the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders of Worthington  Industries,
Inc.

     Our audits also included the financial  statement schedule of Worthington
Industries,  Inc. listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on
our audits.  In our opinion,  the  financial  statement  schedule  referred to
above, when considered in relation to the basic financial  statements taken as
a whole,  presents  fairly in all material  respects the information set forth
therein.

     We also consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  Registration
Statements (Form S-8 No. 33-57981)  pertaining to the Worthington  Industries,
Inc.  Deferred Profit Sharing Plan;  (Form S-8 No. 2-80094)  pertaining to the
Worthington  Industries,  Inc.  Amended 1980 Stock Option Plan;  (Form S-3 No.
33-46470) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment
and Stock Purchase Plan; (Form S-8 No. 33-38486) pertaining to the Worthington
Industries,  Inc.  1990  Stock  Option  Plan;  and  (Form  S-3 No.  333-03087)
pertaining to Worthington Industries, Inc. Debt Securities of our report dated
June  14,  1996,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated   financial  statements
incorporated  herein by  reference,  and our report  included in the preceding
paragraph with respect to the financial  statement  schedule  included in this
Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Worthington Industries, Inc.


                                                          /s/Ernst & Young LLP


Columbus, Ohio
August 28, 1996


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