70% of employers prize creative thinking in 2024
NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES — Creative thinking has emerged as the most sought-after skill in 2024, with over 70% of employers identifying it as pivotal for career and business growth, according to separate surveys from the World Economic Forum and Statista.
The data underscores a pivotal change in the business landscape, where cognitive abilities are increasingly valued due to rising workplace complexities.
“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 as an aspiring leader,” said corporate career coach Rachel Wells.
Wells cited five reasons why creativity is “vitally important”:
- Career Development: The ability to think laterally, or outside the box, is pivotal for career growth, enabling individuals to tackle challenges and obstacles with confidence and innovation.
- Adapting To Change: The rapid evolution of the workplace, especially since the pandemic, demands a robust set of creative skills. This includes adapting to remote or hybrid work environments, integrating new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and navigating the complexities of a diverse workforce.
- Competitor Advantage: In a highly competitive market, organizations and individuals must approach challenges with fresh, innovative strategies to stay ahead.
- Irreplaceable By AI: While AI’s capabilities are growing, it cannot replicate the uniqueness of human intelligence, making this skill increasingly valuable.
- Growth Mindset: Encouraging creative thinking within organizations fosters a culture of continuous improvement and overall efficiency of workflows and processes.
Compared to technical skills that can be acquired through training, creative thinking is intrinsically unique to each person. This explains its rising desirability, as it fuels the diversity and fresh perspectives that organizations need to stay competitive.
