<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>ASTA Blogs</title>
    <link>https://www.astalearning.com/news</link>
    <description>Explore skilled trades articles, training tips, career advice, and industry insights for technicians and employers across the USA.</description>
    <language>en</language>
    <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:34:16 GMT</pubDate>
    <dc:date>2026-03-31T13:34:16Z</dc:date>
    <dc:language>en</dc:language>
    <item>
      <title>Closing the Skills Gap: How Real-World Training Builds Better Technicians</title>
      <link>https://www.astalearning.com/news/closing-the-skills-gap-how-real-world-training-builds-better-technicians</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/closing-the-skills-gap-how-real-world-training-builds-better-technicians" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/robotic-engineer-and-team-oversee-software-machin-2026-01-07-00-20-18-utc.jpg" alt="Closing the Skills Gap: How Real-World Training Builds Better Technicians" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;Across the skilled trades, one issue continues to challenge employers: the skills gap.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/closing-the-skills-gap-how-real-world-training-builds-better-technicians" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/robotic-engineer-and-team-oversee-software-machin-2026-01-07-00-20-18-utc.jpg" alt="Closing the Skills Gap: How Real-World Training Builds Better Technicians" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;Across the skilled trades, one issue continues to challenge employers: the skills gap.&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track-na2.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=243957939&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.astalearning.com%2Fnews%2Fclosing-the-skills-gap-how-real-world-training-builds-better-technicians&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.astalearning.com%252Fnews&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Career Growth</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:34:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.astalearning.com/news/closing-the-skills-gap-how-real-world-training-builds-better-technicians</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-03-31T13:34:16Z</dc:date>
      <dc:creator>ASTA</dc:creator>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building a Career in Skilled Trades: More Than Just a Job</title>
      <link>https://www.astalearning.com/news/building-a-career-in-skilled-trades-more-than-just-a-job</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/building-a-career-in-skilled-trades-more-than-just-a-job" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/teacher-with-high-school-students-in-design-and-te-2026-01-11-09-43-26-utc.jpg" alt="Building a Career in Skilled Trades: More Than Just a Job" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;For many people, a job is simply a way to earn a living. But in the skilled trades, it can be much more than that—it can be a path to building something meaningful.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/building-a-career-in-skilled-trades-more-than-just-a-job" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/teacher-with-high-school-students-in-design-and-te-2026-01-11-09-43-26-utc.jpg" alt="Building a Career in Skilled Trades: More Than Just a Job" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;For many people, a job is simply a way to earn a living. But in the skilled trades, it can be much more than that—it can be a path to building something meaningful.&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track-na2.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=243957939&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.astalearning.com%2Fnews%2Fbuilding-a-career-in-skilled-trades-more-than-just-a-job&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.astalearning.com%252Fnews&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Skilled Trades</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:26:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.astalearning.com/news/building-a-career-in-skilled-trades-more-than-just-a-job</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-03-31T13:26:18Z</dc:date>
      <dc:creator>ASTA</dc:creator>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why Skilled Trades Need Thinkers—Not Just Technicians</title>
      <link>https://www.astalearning.com/news/why-skilled-trades-need-thinkers-not-just-technicians</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/why-skilled-trades-need-thinkers-not-just-technicians" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/robotic-engineer-and-team-oversee-software-machin-2026-01-07-00-20-18-utc.jpg" alt="Why Skilled Trades Need Thinkers—Not Just Technicians" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;In today’s fast-moving industries, the definition of a “skilled technician” is evolving. It’s no longer enough to simply follow instructions or repeat tasks. Employers are facing a growing challenge: finding individuals who can think critically, adapt under pressure, and solve real-world problems.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.astalearning.com/news/why-skilled-trades-need-thinkers-not-just-technicians" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.astalearning.com/hubfs/robotic-engineer-and-team-oversee-software-machin-2026-01-07-00-20-18-utc.jpg" alt="Why Skilled Trades Need Thinkers—Not Just Technicians" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;In today’s fast-moving industries, the definition of a “skilled technician” is evolving. It’s no longer enough to simply follow instructions or repeat tasks. Employers are facing a growing challenge: finding individuals who can think critically, adapt under pressure, and solve real-world problems.&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track-na2.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=243957939&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.astalearning.com%2Fnews%2Fwhy-skilled-trades-need-thinkers-not-just-technicians&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.astalearning.com%252Fnews&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Skilled Trades</category>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:55:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.astalearning.com/news/why-skilled-trades-need-thinkers-not-just-technicians</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-03-30T16:55:45Z</dc:date>
      <dc:creator>ASTA</dc:creator>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>
