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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 18, 1997, included in
the 1997 Annual Report of 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 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; (Form S-8 No. 333-18099) pertaining to the
Worthington Steel Company (Malvern) Union Retirement Savings Plan; and (Form S-3
No. 333-03087) pertaining to Worthington Industries, Inc. Debt Securities of our
report dated June 18, 1997, 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 26, 1997