Creativity crucial for the future economy

Creative skills are crucial to driving employment and economic growth in Australia, according to new research by the Bureau of Communications and Arts Research (BCAR).

The BCAR’s research paper Creative skills for the future economy analyses the skills and qualifications of people working in creative fields and how these may be used in the future.

Creative skills have a substantial influence on Australia’s economy, with businesses relying on $87 billion worth of creative industries inputs in 2014/15.

The demand for creative skills is expected to increase as the trend to the automation of goods and services continues.

The research paper found the growth of those employed in creative occupations was already growing rapidly, about double the rate of other occupations between 2011 and 2016.

In 2016, 9.5% of those employed in Australia held a ‘creative’ qualification as their highest level of qualification, including communications, information technology and architecture.

The paper finds that creative skills are the backbone of many fast-growing industries and some of the more innovative sectors of the Australian economy such as Information, Media and Telecommunications.

Creativity also supports Australia’s participation in the global economy and enables exports of many goods and services.

Creative skills will be critical to positioning Australia to benefit fully from new technologies and sources of growth.

The full paper can be viewed on BCAR’s website at www.communications.gov.au/bcar

Image: The planned Hedberg Creative Industries Centre in Hobart