Modern manufacturing careers

The Rock River Valley has always been a place where hard work and craftsmanship thrive. Industry was already booming when my grandparents, Stetler & Evelyn, founded Forest City Gear in 1955. Since then, manufacturing has waxed and waned. But one truth remains clear: Our region and manufacturing remain inextricably linked. If we want the 815 to continue to flourish, bolstering the skilled trades is vital.

Today, our region is home to some of the top players in aerospace manufacturing and machining. We’re proud to stand in the same circle as Woodward, Collins, and Kaney, to name a few. These companies compete on a global scale, all while employing thousands of our neighbors and friends. At Forest City Gear, we employ 125 people—60% of whom are in skilled trade roles like machining, CNC programming, and quality inspection.

Like many other manufacturers in the area, the impact of the workers here reaches far beyond our shop. Gears made here in Roscoe have traveled aboard NASA missions, propelled satellites into orbit, and powered four Mars exploration Rovers. Forest City Gear and our peers prove that a career in the trades is more than just a job. Every day, workers in the Rock River Valley are helping humanity reach for the stars.

Competitive careers
Manufacturing is the backbone of our local economy, providing not just jobs but stable, rewarding careers. Many skilled trade positions start with salaries greater than $40,000 a year (right out of high school), with incredible opportunities for growth. These positions often come with enviable benefits, including paid education and comprehensive health coverage. For too long, the trades have been written off as stopgap jobs. These are careers that build families, strengthen communities, and instill pride.

The reality is that our region, like much of the country, is facing a growing demand for skilled workers. As experienced tradespeople retire, openings are left unfilled. We need the next generation to step up and carry forward the legacy of excellence that our community is built on. But we need your help.

Reframing the narrative
Stereotypes surrounding the trades paint a picture of dark, dirty, and dangerous workspaces. And it just is not accurate. Our facilities are bright, clean, and outfitted with the best machinery on the market—some of it designed and manufactured in the Rockford Region. Automation, machine learning, and CNC machining can all be found in nearly any manufacturing facility in town.

Our machinists and inspectors function at the same level of technical complexity as any engineer or scientist using cutting-edge technology. And as much as we work with technology, these jobs are surprisingly resistant to succumbing to the age of AI. While many “laptop jobs” are at risk of getting replaced with AI automation, the trades are here to stay.

Pathways into the trades
Accessibility is probably the main advantage of this career path. You don’t need to drudge through a four-year degree or rack up decades of debt to begin. High school technical programs, affordable community college certificates, sponsored apprenticeships, and on-the-job training are all common and viable paths to entry.

Right here at home, the Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Association (RRVTMA) facilitates skilled trades apprenticeships in partnership with Rock Valley College. These programs allow young people to earn while they learn to gain journeyman certification from the Department of Labor. Apprenticeships in CNC machining, gear cutting, welding, and more are sponsored by the students’ employers. That means valuable training without missing work or a paycheck.

Parents: the key to encouragement
Schools and businesses can open doors, but a parent’s voice and guidance usually matters most. For too long, the misconception that “success can only come from a four-year degree” has been repeated and internalized. But the truth is that work in the trades offers stability and satisfaction—benefits that any parent would want for their child.

Here’s my call to action, parents. It’s on us. Start the conversation young. Talk about welding or machining or excavating and not just becoming a doctor or lawyer. Talk about ALL the options. Tour a local facility—at FCG, our door is always open. Find a friend in the trades to talk to your kids. Learn about apprenticeships or high school internships. Show your kids that these are legitimate jobs that you would be PROUD of. Building a home, repairing a car, or making a part for an airplane—these are real, tangible skills that are respectable.

American manufacturing depends on you
The future of our community rests on the shoulders of the next generation of skilled tradespeople. That’s no exaggeration. Parts for outer space exploration will continue to come from the Rockford Region, as long as there are skilled minds here to manufacture them.

If you’re a parent, I urge you to encourage your kids to explore the skilled trades. Help them see that a future in manufacturing is not only possible but promising. Instead of paying off student loans well into their 30s, they can buy a house in their 20s. The opportunities are here, the technology is cutting-edge, and the need has never been greater.

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.