EXHIBIT 23(b)

                               CONSENT OF KPMG LLP

The Board of Directors
Worthington Industries, Inc.

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement (Form S-8
No. 33-57981) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. Deferred Profit
Sharing Plan; (Form S-3 No. 33-46470 and Form S-3 No. 333-48627) 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. 333-42849) pertaining to the Worthington
Industries, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan; and (Form S-8 No. 333-52628)
pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors of Worthington Industries, Inc. of our report dated June
17, 2003, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Worthington
Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of May 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related
consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for
each of the years in the two year period ended May 31, 2003, and the related
financial statement schedule, which report appears in the Annual Report on Form
10-K of Worthington Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003.

/s/ KPMG LLP
---------------
Columbus, Ohio
August 21, 2003

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