One of the most common myths about studying creative arts is that there are no real jobs at the end of it. You've probably heard it before. Creative careers are "risky". Creative jobs are disappearing. You need a backup plan.
The reality is very different.
As we dive into 2026, the Australian creative industries are not shrinking. They're expanding, diversifying and hiring across more roles than ever before.
Here is what the data actually shows and why creative careers remain a strong and future focused choice.
Creative work is not a niche corner of the economy. It's a significant and fast growing sector.
In Australia, the creative industries employ over 714,000 people, representing around 5.9 percent of the national workforce. The creative arts sector contributes approximately 63.7 billion dollars to Gross Domestic Product, which is more than agriculture or utilities.
Employment in creative roles is growing at an annual rate of 3.8 percent, outperforming the national average growth rate of 2.4 percent.
This is not a declining industry. It is one of the country’s strongest growth areas.
The idea that creative jobs are disappearing usually comes from misunderstanding and fear: people imagine only a handful of traditional roles like musicians on stage or artists in galleries.
In reality, creative work today spans:
These areas are among the highest demand sectors within the creative industries.
Jobs are not vanishing. They're changing shape as technology, platforms and audiences evolve.
Another persistent myth is that creative graduates struggle to find work.
The data tells a different story.
82.1 percent of Collarts graduates are employed shortly after completing their course, a result that exceeds both the national average and the average across non university higher education providers.
This reflects something important: when creative degrees are designed around industry practice, job pathways and real skills, graduates are employable.
That reality is reflected in Collarts students like Olivia, a Fashion Marketing (Buying and Retail) student who has already launched her buying career while studying, demonstrating how industry-led learning translates directly into real-world opportunities.
Employers are not looking for vague creativity. They're looking for people who can apply creative skills in real contexts.
Far from being oversupplied, many creative industries are experiencing skill shortages, particularly across:
When training aligns closely with job pathways, demand for graduates increases. And that's exactly what's happening across multiple creative disciplines.
This applies across roles many people do not immediately associate with creativity, including:
Another myth is that creative careers are narrow or unstable.
In reality, creative professionals often build careers across multiple roles and industries. A designer might work in branding, UX and content. A musician might work in production, audio, live events and media. A screen graduate might move between film, digital content and commercial production.
One of our Audio Production graduates Willow immersed herself in the full spectrum of audio production, from recording live sound, to pre- and post-production and mixing. Now she has multiple job opportunities and recently supported AusMusic Month, helping showcase major artists like Amy Shark, The Temper Trap, and Guy Sebastian.
Flexible creative careers are a strength, not a weakness.
Creative skills are transferable, adaptable and increasingly valued across the economy.
Location matters in creative careers and Australia has strong creative centres.
Job growth in the creative industries is strongest in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with Melbourne widely recognised as one of the country’s leading cultural and creative hubs.
Melbourne is home to:
Dense networks of studios and agencies
Major arts and screen infrastructure
Established music, design and media industries, as well as international festivals
Creative precincts including Collingwood, Fitzroy, Southbank and Docklands studios
Collarts is located in the heart of this ecosystem, which means students are studying inside an active creative economy, not outside it.
Choosing a creative career is not about ignoring reality. It's about understanding where growth, demand and opportunity actually exist.
In 2026, creative careers will continue to expand across digital, screen, music, design, fashion, games and publishing.
If you want to build skills that are relevant, adaptable and connected to real industry demand, creative arts remain one of the most future focused study choices available.
Creative work is not disappearing. It's evolving, growing and hiring.