Creativity Gap in American Workplace

According to a recent survey, most Americans believe they are instinctively creative, but just 63% of workers feel that they are able to utilize that creativity in the workplace.  The survey, commissioned by the Fairfax County (Virginia) Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), highlights the economic importance of fostering creativity at the workplace; particularly if America plans to rely on innovation as the foundation of their future role in the global market.

Business Wire writes:

This “creativity gap” – the disparity between the creative resources available and those being employed – can be an important indicator, experts say, in determining how well American companies are preparing for a future U.S. economy that will rely on creativity and innovation more than ever.

“The U.S. economy has always been fueled by new ideas and innovation, and this survey underscores the value that American workers put on creativity at work,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA. “In many ways, the results of this research are a wakeup call to U.S. companies. Today they must find new ways to harness the creative energies of the workforce, and give their employees creative and productive outlets for their ideas to close the creativity gap.”

The survey found that most workers put a high premium on creativity at work. Seventy-five percent of respondents thought their employers valued their creativity, and even more telling, one in five (21%) said they would change jobs in order to be more creative at work even if it meant earning less money. Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed indicated they would move if it meant being part of a more creative community. This was especially true of younger workers ages 18-34 (37%).

[via creative class group]