6th March 2025
Our industry is no stranger to shortages.
These three factors have contributed towards a growing problem that’s become impossible to ignore and even harder to overcome.
A lack of skilled talent (which is affecting 42% of businesses in our sector).
Since the dawn of time, there’s been a distinct lack of resources directed toward the creative industry. We’ve always pulled through.
However, more recently, the odds have been stacked against us.
At a young age, children are incorrectly taught that pursuing creative work is an unstable career choice. This hasn’t been the case for years.
The following industries are thriving:
Schools (and parents) need to recognise this and start encouraging students to pursue their passions, regardless of the direction this takes them in.
“[Talent] has fallen by 68% from 2010 (299,422 entries) to 2021 (95,694 entries). The lack of early education puts the industry at risk.” – Design Week
Thankfully, though, there is an answer.
Rather than simply marching into schools and demanding change, creative leaders should look internally to fill their skill gaps.
Too often, firms get so excited to hire innovative employees that already have experience that they forget the value of training.
Don’t throw yourself into the same boat. Remember, soft skills can be learnt.
By organising:
You can further engage staff members in their roles and encourage career progression.
Training opportunities can also be used as an asset to your company when recruiting, as a part of your Employer Value Proposition.
Other than “creativity”, there are lots of soft skills that can be useful in our industry. Each one can unlock an efficient and productive workforce.
Did you know that you can teach your employees to be more open with each other? Training meetings can break down the barriers to communication by forging trusting relationships, which could have long-lasting results for your company.
When we have an idea that we’re really passionate about, it can be hard to see reason. Teaching your employees to be reflective of the plans they put forward will guarantee quality work gets delivered to your clients.
Admit it. We’ve all procrastinated before. While this can be healthy (to a certain extent), it’s also critical that we don’t let it consume our working lives. Delivering projects on time and following your outlined schedule will help teams meet goals more often.
As the market continues to evolve and clients make new demands, it’s not only you who has to deal with these changes. Your whole team can help. Educate your employees to be calm during crises and make it clear that you are always open to hearing their contributions.
Employees can’t perform when they are feeling overwhelmed. Start teaching your team about wellbeing, mental health, and issues like creative burnout. Then, facilitate time for individuals to let go of stress so they can return to you in full health.
If you need to efficiently fill gaps within your organisation, the experts at Ross Clifford & Associates can help.
We recruit for various job positions across the creative, marketing, technology, and digital environments and are confident we can find the perfect fit for your business. Contact us today.