Do creative skills future-proof your job? Creativity and the future of work in an age of exponential technological advancement

Ruth Bridgstock, Russell Tytler and Peta White Numerous studies published in the last five years document escalating changes to the world of work under the influence of digital technologies such as automation and machine learning. Creativity seems to be an important ingredient in the future of work – both as a capability set that may be ‘uniquely human’ and not easily automatable, and as a key way to add value across different work scenarios – which allows us to manage and solve complex problems through processes of induction and synthesis. Drawing in part on a study ‘100 Jobs of the Future’, based on interviews with research and technology development experts, this chapter explores research-based predictions about how work and careers will unfold, which capabilities will be required, and the ways in which different kinds of human creativity will be valued.