YoloWorks, a nonprofit for workforce development in Yolo County, is offering county residents free online career training to earn Google certificates for entry-level technology jobs.
The certificates are part of the Grow with Google program that in Yolo County will be offered by Coursera Inc. (NYSE: COUR).
"Once they complete the course, they can list their certificates and skills for employers that are looking for those skills," said Erica Johnson, workforce director with Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency.
Completion of the online courses allows students to get Google Career Certificates in cybersecurity, data analytics, computer support, digital marketing and e-commerce, among others.
The county has 500 licenses for the free courses, which are first-come, first-serve and open through December next year. About 250 of the licenses have been reserved so far, Johnson said. Residents can only take one course under the free license. They can take additional courses, but they would have to pay about $250 for each. The free licenses are being supported by Google, she said.
Grow with Google was launched in 2017 by Google parent Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) to help the U.S. workforce increase its digital skills. It works with local workforce development boards and nonprofits.
The Google programs are available to people without college degrees or prior experience.
The online programs can be completed part-time within three months or up to six months.
After obtaining a certificate, graduates can join the Coursera-Google job platform, which lists career opportunities to various employers hiring for both remote and in-person positions. It is free for employers to list openings on the platform, Johnson said.
The employers are specifically seeking candidates who have completed one or more of these certificates.
More information and applications are at yoloworks.org.
