Google has launched a new training initiative to help job seekers in the Dublin area.
Google's 'Career Certificates' aim to help people who want to acquire new digital skills outside of formal educational environments or who might not have access to formal full-time education.
Those who sign up do not require any experience or a degree, and can select any number of the four courses available, including IT support, data analyst, project manager and UX designer.
1,000 certificates will be distributed through the City of Dublin Education and Training Board in collaboration with St Andrew's Local Employment Services, and will be recognised by industry experts and employers, including Google.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, research conducted by Google and The McKinsey Global Institute showed that to ensure job creation, more than 90 million workers may need to develop significant new skills by 2030.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, said the onset of the pandemic has accelerated this trend.
"Digital skills are becoming fundamental requirements for the jobs of the future, and we've seen how the pandemic has accelerated the need for more people who can work in this area.
"It’s vital that further education and skills training is available to people through programmes that will support them in expanding their opportunities and securing employment," he said.
Google's 'Career Certificates' can be completed in three to five weeks if done full time, however the company said most learners take up to six months to complete.
