Discover Why 70% Of Employers Say Creative Thinking Is Most In-Demand Skill In 2024

If you want your career to thrive, or your organization to survive in 2024, tapping into and building your creative thinking skills is an absolute necessity.

"More than 70% of companies surveyed consider creative thinking and analytical thinking to be the skills most expected to rise in importance between 2023 and 2027," says Statista.

Indeed, cognitive skills are the skills growing in importance most rapidly due to increasing complexities in the workplace.

Why Do You Need Creative Thinking Skills?

Creativity is vitally important for several reasons.

1. Career Development: First, it enables your career growth. The ability to think outside the box, also termed lateral thinking, is one that will empower you to face challenges and hurdles in your career, and at work, with confidence and positivity.

2. Adapting To Change: In 2024, we are observing how workplaces globally are changing, and have changed quite rapidly within the past few years alone, especially since the pandemic. Factors such as transitioning to remote or hybrid work, adopting and integrating new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and navigating the complexities of leading and collaborating with multiple generations in the workforce, while being sensitive to all of their needs and providing them with adequate support—call for a solid set of creative thinking skills.

3. Competitor Advantage: If you don't tackle professional or business challenges with fresh approaches now, your competitors will, and you'll lose your opportunity. Organizations thrive because they are led by leaders who think outside the box, eye the market daily for opportunities, and capitalize on them to create dynamic solutions.

4. Irreplaceable By AI: While AI certainly has a multitude of advantages and capabilities, which are set to increase over the next few years while its technology is being fine-tuned, there is one thing that artificial intelligence can never fully replicate or replace: human intelligence. Creative thinking is a unique skill set that boasts the advantages of not only being in-demand, but it cannot be duplicated by machines, making it a greater necessity to develop this skill if you want to future-proof your career.

5. Growth Mindset: Last but not least, organizations that foster an environment in which creative thinking skills are encouraged and developed, contribute to a growth mindset culture and enable continuous improvement. When you always look for new ideas, you will be able to improve the overall efficiency of your workflows and processes.

Source: Forbs - 70% Of Employers Say Creative Thinking Is Most In-Demand Skill In 2024

What Is Creative Thinking in The Workplace? Definition and Examples

Creative thinking is the ability to come up with unique, original solutions. Also known as creative problem-solving, creative thinking is a valuable and marketable soft skill in a wide variety of careers. Here’s what you need to know about creative thinking at work.

Creative Thinking Definition:
Creative thinking is all about developing innovative solutions to problems. Creative thinkers brainstorm not only a large number of ideas but also a variety and range of them. In the workplace, creative thinking is highly valuable because employers look to hire innovative employees who can help them solve the company’s problems.

So, what does creative thinking in the workplace look like?
First, a creative person brainstorms their ideas, then they’ll experiment with them. They look at ideas from multiple perspectives and examine how their solutions fit into the scope of what they’re working on. Creative thinkers aren’t afraid to take risks and try new ideas. In fact, this ability to develop, test, and implement original solutions makes them a valuable asset to just about any workplace.

Creative thinking in the workplace might look like:

1. Holding an interactive brainstorm to gather initial thoughts on a project;
2. Evaluating a current process and offering suggestions on how to improve it;
3. Researching other ways to market a product and leading experiments on new marketing channels;
4. Developing an innovative way to reach out to prospective clients;
5. Identifying a unique opportunity to promote the company brand and developing a strategy to do so;
6. Discovering a new way to measure a product initiative’s success and using learnings to iterate on the next version.

Source: The Torage - What Is Creative Thinking? Definition and Examples

The data supports this idea, too:
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs report, analytical thinking and creative thinking remain the most important skills for workers in 2023. Analytical thinking is considered a core skill by more companies than any other skill and constitutes, on average, 9% of the core skills reported by companies. Creative thinking, another cognitive skill, ranks second, ahead of
three self-efficacy skills (self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their capacity to act in the ways necessary to reach specific goals. It is the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations) – resilience, flexibility and agility; motivation and self-awareness; and curiosity and lifelong learning – in recognition of the importance of workers ability to adapt to disrupted workplaces. Dependability and attention to detail, ranks sixth, behind technological literacy. The core skills top 10 is completed by two attitudes relating to working with others – empathy and active listening and leadership and social influence – as well as quality control.

ARTXP: Your Gateway to Stimylating Creative Thinking and Innovation

You are invited to further stimulate creative thinking among employees and unlock their full potential, by booking an ARTXP creative experience or workshop for your next team building or corporate event.

Elevate your team’s creative potential by exploring ARTXP’s experiences. Our hands-on creative workshops offer a one-of-a-kind journey for your team, stimulating out-of-the-box thinking, sharpening problem-solving skills, and encouraging innovation. Dive into ARTXP's world and transform your team into a powerhouse of creativity and ingenuity. Book one experience or a series of experiences for a longer-lasting impact. Each experience is designed and led by talented artists and creators and has been carefully selected by ARTXP's team, ensuring quality and uniqueness.

Explore ARTXP's creative expereicnes and inquire today!

Join the ranks of leading organizations like LEGO, Novo Nordisk, Deloitte, and dozens of others who have already chosen ARTXP to elevate their team's creative potential. Discover what makes ARTXP a trusted partner for fostering innovation and creativity. Get in touch today!

Contact us at: bookings@art-xp.com

When you book an ARTXP experience, you give your team the opportunity to engage in a completely different activity —a hands-on creative experience— that stimulates out-of-the-box thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.