Google is releasing three online Google Career Certificates in User Experience (UX) Design, Project Management, and Data Analytics, as well as an Android Development Certification course. As part of the Grow with Google economic opportunity initiative, the certificates join the Google IT Support Professional and Automation with Python Certificates that are helping underserved groups–especially the 73% of Americans who do not have a degree–enter high paying, high-growth fields. Available on the online learning platform Coursera and in community colleges, the programs provide affordable, job-ready training.
Google is also releasing 100,000 need-based scholarships for the new programs, adding new companies to its employer consortium that will consider program graduates for jobs, and expanding the Google apprenticeship program. Through Google’s skilling programs and Google.org grantees including Goodwill and Merit America, the company has helped nearly 170,000 Americans get new jobs with an average salary increase of 57%.
“As economic recovery accelerates in communities around the U.S. and across the globe, we have an opportunity to help build an economy that is more inclusive and equitable,” said Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer, Google. “That’s what today’s announcements are designed to do, and we’re excited to partner with employers, community colleges, nonprofits, and job seekers to make it happen.”
Today’s announcement aims to help job seekers navigate the current economic crisis as well as ongoing workforce shifts. There are over 10 million unemployed Americans, and The World Economic Forum estimates that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 as the adoption of technology increases. As a result, Google’s new certificates are in fields with demonstrable demand. The fields have over 1 million open jobs nationally with an average starting salary of $69,000.
The program’s employer consortium is expanding to over 130 employers who will consider graduates for related jobs. New employers include Anthem, Bayer, Better.com, Deloitte, SAP, SiriusXM + Pandora, Snap Inc, Verizon, and Zennify. Existing employers include Accenture, Infosys, Vanguard, Walmart, and of course, Google. Additionally, Google.org will support research to improve job placement outcomes for the 70+ million workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) across credentialing programs like the Google Career Certificates through a grant to Opportunity@Work—a leader in the national workforce development space.
Google is also partnering with Guild Education, which works with leading Fortune 1000 employers such as The Walt Disney Company, Walmart, Discover, Chipotle, and Lowe’s to transform their education & upskilling programs through Guild’s technology platform, payments system, and learning marketplace. Many of the country’s largest employers will be able to offer the Google Career Certificates through Guild’s Learning Marketplace as a tool to upskill their workforce.
“Our partnership with Google will allow us to provide strategic upskilling opportunities to America’s workforce,” said Paul Freedman, President of the Learning Marketplace at Guild Education. “Leveraging the Google Career Certificates, frontline employees of our Fortune 1000 employer partners can develop many of the essential skills needed for today’s in-demand jobs.”
To provide on-the-job training, Google will offer several apprenticeships tracks nationally that will be Department of Labor registered. Four of the apprenticeship tracks will complement the Google Career Certificate fields, along with apprenticeships in Software Engineering and Digital Marketing. Applications open in spring.
“We are so excited about the promise these Certificates have shown in rapidly reskilling workers for fast-growing tech jobs—and ultimately their ability to support a more equitable and inclusive economic recovery,” said Lisa Gevelber, Vice President, Grow with Google.
The company is also launching a new Search feature in the U.S., which will make it easier for people to find jobs for their education and experience level. Now when people search for “no degree jobs” on Google, they will see a job carousel highlighting relevant opportunities and be able to filter jobs based on education and experience requirements, including “no degree.” Google is also working with job sites, including Glassdoor, Snagajob, ZipRecruiter, CareerBuilder, and U.S. employers to make these requirements clearer on job postings.
The new Google Career certificates follow the success of the Google IT Certificate, which prepares people for entry-level jobs in IT support. The most popular certificate on Coursera globally, the program helps connect underserved groups with jobs (53 percent of graduates identify as Black, Latino, female, or veteran and 82 percent of graduates report a positive career impact within six months of completion). The Google IT Support Certificate is also offered in over 100 community colleges as well as in select Career and Technical Training high schools across the country.
“Google Career Certificates provide a fast and flexible way for workers to transition into in-demand careers, without having to quit their day jobs while they learn,” said Rebecca Taber, Co-CEO, Merit America. “Google’s partnership with Merit America has led to transformative outcomes for our participants, with the majority of graduates securing new roles, moving from an average pre-program salary of $26,000 to an average post-program salary of $50,000, nearly doubling their income,” said Connor Diemand-Yauman, Co-CEO, Merit America.
Designed and taught by Google employees, the certificates can be completed in three to six months. There is no degree or experience required to enroll. Starting today, everyone can enroll at grow.google/certificates, and can attend free workshops to learn more about the certificates at g.co/grow/GoogleCareerCertificates.
About Grow with Google
Grow with Google was started in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses. It provides free training, tools, and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, job seekers and students, educators, startups, and developers. Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than six million Americans develop new skills. Grow with Google has a network of more than 8,000 partner organizations like libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce, workforce development boards, and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.