Canva Report Reveals Creativity Is Crucial for Career Success, but Graduates Are Falling Short

The report, based on a Harris Poll survey of 3,000 recent college graduates, educators, and hiring managers, shows that more than half of recent graduates wish they had developed stronger creativity skills during their education. Both hiring managers and educators agree that graduates are falling short in the skills needed for the workforce. With creativity ranking among the top skills sought by employers, the findings underscore the urgent need for educational institutions to prioritize creative skill development to prepare students for success in an AI-driven world.

Creativity is emerging as a crucial skill, on par with traditional STEM subjects, yet it often lacks the attention it deserves in current educational curricula. The findings emphasize the need for education systems to evolve, placing greater focus on fostering creativity to ensure students are equipped with the skills required to thrive in  and tomorrow’s careers.

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“Even with technology and AI reshaping the workforce, creativity is one of the few skills that will always be essential for innovation and problem-solving. Despite 81% of graduates seeing creativity as essential for success in their current roles, and 75% of hiring managers prioritizing it when hiring, we’re still not investing enough in developing this crucial skill. Education systems need to better prioritize and nurture creativity to ensure students are equipped for the future’s demands.”

— Carly Daff, Canva’s Head of Teams & Education

Key findings from Canva’s Creativity in Education Report

• More than three-quarters of hiring managers are prioritizing creative thinkers when making hiring decisions. Creativity is highly valued and ranks among the top three sought-after skills hiring managers look for (57%), alongside problem-solving (58%) and communication (55%).

• More than half of recent college graduates wish they had developed stronger creativity skills during their education. 80% of recent graduates believe creativity is crucial for success in their current roles, and they also rank creativity as the most useful skill they learned in college.

• Only 38% of educators and 56% of hiring managers think graduates are adequately prepared for the workforce. Despite 69% of recent graduates feeling their education prepared them well, there is a significant skills gap that highlights the urgent need for educational systems to better align with the skills required by today’s job market.

• Lack of time, curriculum support, and resources are major barriers for educators in integrating creativity. 83% of educators agree that creativity will become more important in education. However, 36% cite insufficient time, 34% mention lack of curriculum support, and 32% struggle with inadequate resources as the biggest obstacles to effectively integrating creativity into their teaching.

• 85% of hiring managers believe AI will increase the need for creative thinking. As AI continues to transform the job market, 84% of recent graduates and 80% of hiring managers believe creativity will become even more essential, highlighting its enduring importance as one of the most valuable soft skills.

“We review more than 300,000 applications each year, and the most successful candidates are those who can think outside the box and approach problems with a creative mindset. We believe in investing in creativity from the ground up, starting in the classroom, so the next generation is equipped to meet future challenges.”

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— Amy Schultz, Canva’s Global Head of Talent Acquisition

Part of Canva’s mission is to do the most good possible, which includes a focus on supporting access to quality education for all. To empower teachers to create visual lessons, streamline their work, and unlock creativity in the classroom, Canva provides Canva for Education 100% free for all K-12 teachers, students, schools, districts, campuses, ministries and school systems, with more than 100,000 education and lesson templates and over 10 AI tools with the safety assurances of Canva Shield. Canva for Campus is Canva’s higher education plan for higher education institutions globally, enabling everyone on campus to collaborate and do their best work.

This research, conducted by The Harris Poll in June 2024, surveyed 3,066 participants across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. The sample included 1,234 recent college graduates who had earned their degrees within the past 12-24 months and are currently in the workforce, 915 educators from high schools and colleges and 917 hiring managers from midmarket (500+) and enterprise (1000+) companies spanning various industries. The survey explored perspectives on creativity’s role in education and the workplace, the gap between graduate skills and employer expectations, and the impact of AI on creative processes.