Dive Brief:
- A new partnership between LinkedIn Learning and Google aims to train professionals interested in pursuing a career in Android development and coding. The 19-course, Google-endorsed Learning Path includes about 50 hours of online coursework that preps candidates for Google Associate Android Developer Certification.
- LinkedIn data shows the job is in demand, with the number of android developer hires doubling since 2015. And demand is expected to grow by 24% in the next eight years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Salaries for developers range widely but tend to be high, from $85,000 as the general median to an average base of $115,000 in San Francisco.
Dive Insight:
The tech skills gap continues to push employers to seek creative solutions to their staffing shortages. Some are finding that skills-based hiring, rather than reliance on degrees, may be the only way to stay ahead in this market.
And this isn't the first time we've seen Google attempt to train non-employees to create a solid applicant pool for the future. Earlier this year, it announced plans to offer 10,000 scholarships to American workers and students for a program modeled after the company's internal IT training program.
The partnership also raises LinkedIn's profile in the learning market. Following the purchase of Lynda.com in 2015, LinkedIn has moved solidly into the space with its LinkedIn Learning platform. Using data from its extensive network, the company has been able to uncover what functions are growth-oriented, what skills are being added to profiles and what skills are being asked for in job posts.
