Dive Brief:

• Looking to offset the cloud skills crisis, Google Cloud unveiled four certifications, an array of Coursera training programs and additional language capabilities across several core offerings on Thursday. 
• Mirroring growth in the larger cloud economy, Google Cloud job listings have increased 1,000% in the last three years, preempting the need for more education in Google Cloud skills and the next generation of IT professionals, according to Rochana Golani, director of Google Cloud Learning and Enablement.
• Actually learning and working in the cloud is crucial to develop the cloud skills they need, Golani said, in an interview with CIO Dive. Google connects learners directly into the cloud lab environment for on-demand and instructor-led training. 

Dive Insight:

Cloud skills change rapidly, and cloud professionals have to stay on top of certifications and trainings to anticipate future demand.

IT certifications are an important for employers, providing clear indicators of a potential hire's skills and ability to fit into an organization. Certifications can also bring in higher salaries for workers.

With the new cloud developer, network engineer and security engineer certifications, Google is focusing on core areas of cloud success, according to Golani. The certifications validate the skills of cloud workers who can build scalable, cloud native applications; understand network infrastructure and services; and build secure applications.

Large technology providers, especially cloud providers, have been opening up educational tools and pathways. By breeding expertise among the greater pool of cloud professionals, technology providers can create inroads to new business customers through employees familiar with proprietary systems. 

Training pathways on generally accessible platforms, such as Coursera, are a growing avenue for accomplishing this. 

Google isn't the only cloud provider using Coursera to target new and existing cloud learners. Amazon Web Services recently launched its first partnership with the platform for a cloud fundamentals training program. 

Coursera offers tech providers access to 32 million potential students and broader learning spaces in areas such as IT and data science, Leah Belsky, VP of enterprise at Coursera, said in a November interview with CIO Dive. And the company is working with businesses across technical fields to develop enterprise training programs and offer workforce training initiatives. 

Many training programs are well suited for existing professionals, but providers have to make sure to accommodate learners still early on in their career, according to Golani.