Most companies today are basking in the workforce benefits of the baby boom. However, the impending crisis in the workforce lies in the fact that the workplace itself is calling for rising levels of competence and a new managerial mindset that are changing the operational methods of companies and diminishing the need for workers with assembly-line mentality. The means of developing a new mindset and enhancing worker creativity and flexibility lie in creative education. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to address the importance of creative education by reference to the conventional systems in Japan and the creativity at work in the industry. The benefits of creative education in the schools, universities, and industry are emphasized, as are the opposing factors that stifle creativity. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to advance creative education in a new wave to enable any government to unleash and empower the creativity and intellect of its educated workforce.
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