Many people are seeking new career paths or opportunities to upskill. Google’s Job Training feature is a fantastic tool that helps individuals discover relevant job training programs. For institutions offering job training, adding the Job Training Schema to your website can enhance your visibility on Google Search and help job seekers find the training programs that suit their needs. This guide will walk you through everything you need about the Job Training Schema, how to implement it, and how to ensure your program is eligible for Google’s job training listing.
The Job Training Schema is a structured data markup that helps job training providers appear in Google’s Job Training feature. Currently in Beta and available only in the US, this feature allows students, professionals, and those looking to switch careers to find relevant training programs to develop new skills. It is crucial in helping people discover job training opportunities, especially for positions that don't require a bachelor's degree.
The Job Training Schema marks up essential information about training programs, such as eligibility, costs, duration, location, and more, so it can be displayed in Google’s search results, providing greater visibility for your programs.
Adding the Job Training Schema to your website offers several benefits:
Increased Visibility: Structured data helps search engines understand and prominently display your program’s information, increasing the chances of being discovered by prospective students.
Better Search Results: With the proper schema, your program can appear in Google’s Job Training listing, helping users quickly find training programs relevant to their career goals.
Enhanced User Experience: Providing accurate and easy-to-find program details directly in search results saves time for potential applicants, improving their experience.
Your program must meet specific criteria to be eligible for inclusion in Google’s Job Training listing on search engines using SEO. These guidelines ensure the program is suitable for individuals looking to upskill, switch careers, or explore new opportunities. Here are the key eligibility requirements
Program Length: Programs must typically last two years or less. Examples include community college programs, certificate programs, and apprenticeships.
Degree Requirements: The program must be intended for applicants with no degree other than a high school diploma.
Focus on Occupations: Programs should prepare students for specific occupations (rather than academic degrees).
Location: Programs must match in-demand occupations in the area where the training takes place.
Program Accessibility: Only programs that train for occupations requiring less than a bachelor’s degree are eligible. Online-only programs are not accepted unless they also provide a credential or certification.
Wage-Paying Programs: If your program pays a wage (such as apprenticeships), it is eligible for inclusion even if the length of the program exceeds two years.
To implement the Job Training Schema on your website, you need to use structured data in JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data). This allows Google and other search engines to read and display important information about your training programs.
Here are the steps to implement the Job Training Schema:
The core entity for your job training program is the EducationalOccupationalProgram. Here’s an example of how to structure the data for your job training program using JSON-LD:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "EducationalOccupationalProgram",
"name": "Certificate in Web Development",
"provider": {
"@type": "EducationalOrganization",
"name": "Community College of X",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "123 Main St.",
"addressLocality": "City",
"addressRegion": "State",
"postalCode": "12345",
"addressCountry": "US"
},
"contactPoint": {
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"telephone": "+1-123-456-7890",
"contactType": "Admissions"
}
},
"offers": {
"@type": "Offer",
"priceSpecification": {
"@type": "PriceSpecification",
"price": "2500",
"priceCurrency": "USD"
}
},
"programPrerequisites": "High School Diploma",
"duration": "P6M",
"applicationStartDate": "2025-03-01",
"applicationDeadline": "2025-06-01",
"occupationalCategory": "Software Developer",
"educationalCredentialAwarded": "Certificate"
}
Make sure to provide all necessary properties in your schema, such as:
Program Name: The name of your job training program.
Program Duration: The duration of the program (e.g., in months or years).
Provider Information: Include the name, contact details, and physical address of the educational institution offering the program.
Program Costs: Mention the estimated cost, tuition fees, and any associated costs for completing the program.
Prerequisites: List any prerequisites required for applying to the program.
Occupational Category: The type of occupation students will be trained for, based on the BLS SOC-6 code.
Once you’ve implemented the Job Training Schema, verify the data using the Rich Results Test and the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console. These tools help ensure that Google can correctly read and show your structured data in search results.
While adding structured data, you might encounter some issues. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:
Missing Required Fields: Ensure all required properties like program name, duration, cost, and occupational category are included.
Invalid Program Information: Double-check the accuracy of program details such as eligibility, accreditation, and price.
Incorrect Structured Data Format: Validate your JSON-LD code with Google’s testing tools to ensure it’s formatted correctly.
Implementing the Job Training Schema on your website is a powerful way to boost your program’s visibility in Google Search, particularly for individuals looking to change careers or explore new opportunities. By following the guidelines and providing accurate structured data, your program can be featured in Google’s Job Training listing, helping you reach a wider audience.