Skip header Skip to main content

By the Numbers: The Coming Creativity Boom in the Workplace

Written by The Inspired Investor Team

Published on September 1, 2021

minute read

Share:

Creativity may just be the “it" skill of the 2020s as Canada moves past the pandemic crisis and starts to rebuild economically.

That's one of the key findings in RBC Thought Leadership's new report, The Coming Creativity Boom: How human ingenuity will power the 2020s.

The pandemic has pushed many companies to decentralize and create new jobs, and even sectors once deemed "too traditional" to change have been forced to find new ways to navigate uncertainty. Some employers are recruiting individuals with a mix of critical thinking and imagination, putting less emphasis on some more traditional "hard" skills. Others are nurturing creativity, teaching qualities like vision and teamwork. Heads of organizations are embracing creativity on an institutional level, too, rethinking physical workplaces and allowing more room to experiment and fail.

As investors, it's important to keep an eye on the big picture of the economy, but also the jobs, skills and people that drive it. Here are some job-market highlights from the RBC Thought Leadership report that help put into perspective the importance of creativity moving forward.

37%: Job postings requesting critical-thinking skills increased this much between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.

20%: Job postings asking for flexibility as a skill increased this much between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.

21%: The portion of Canadians who work in roles that require high creative-thinking skills, according to RBC's analysis.

2/3: How many 15- to 29-year-olds have a high degree of confidence in their creative skills in the workplace, according to survey of 15,000 RBC Future Launch participants.

40%: The percentage of youth not in education or employment who feel most uncomfortable "thinking outside the box."

125%: Healthcare-related job postings that list creative skills have jumped this much since February 2020.

30%: Education-related job postings requiring critical thinking skills increased by this much in January 2021 (following a 50-per-cent spike in September 2020).

20%: Retail job postings explicitly seeking creativity in sales and service spiked by this much in January 2021, despite retail job postings being down overall during lockdowns.

Find the full report, entitled “The Coming Creativity Boom: How human ingenuity will power the 2020s," at thoughtleadership.rbc.com.

RBC Direct Investing Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. RBC Direct Investing Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada and is a Member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Royal Bank of Canada and certain of its issuers are related to RBC Direct Investing Inc. RBC Direct Investing Inc. does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities. Investors are responsible for their own investment decisions. RBC Direct Investing is a business name used by RBC Direct Investing Inc. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence.

© Royal Bank of Canada 2025.

Any information, opinions or views provided in this document, including hyperlinks to the RBC Direct Investing Inc. website or the websites of its affiliates or third parties, are for your general information only, and are not intended to provide legal, investment, financial, accounting, tax or other professional advice. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Direct Investing Inc. or its affiliates. You should consult with your advisor before taking any action based upon the information contained in this document.

Furthermore, the products, services and securities referred to in this publication are only available in Canada and other jurisdictions where they may be legally offered for sale. Information available on the RBC Direct Investing website is intended for access by residents of Canada only, and should not be accessed from any jurisdiction outside Canada.

Inspired Investor brings you personal stories, timely information and expert insights to empower your investment decisions. Visit About Us to find out more.