Stuck or Soaring? What Aussie Creatives Are Saying About Career Growth in 2025

A real look at why nearly 4 in 5 creatives are not feeling the momentum and what to do when your career feels flat.

The emotional truth behind the numbers.

We recently asked our community a simple but revealing question:

“Do you feel like you are growing in your creative career right now?”

Here is how the answers broke down:

19 percent said yes, they are levelling up
35 percent said they are unsure what is next
39 percent said they feel stuck

That means nearly 80 percent of creatives in our network are not experiencing clear momentum in their careers. That is not just a blip. It is a signal.

If you are reading this and nodding along, know this: You are not alone.

Whether you are freelancing, contracting, full-timing, or portfolio-building, this feeling of professional drift has become more common than ever. You might love what you do, but if your growth feels stagnant, it is natural to start questioning everything.

Why So Many Creatives Feel Stuck in 2025

Let us dig into the root causes because this is not just about individual motivation or mindset. The industry is evolving fast, and many creatives are left wondering how or if they still fit into it.

Post-pandemic burnout is still lurking
The past few years were anything but normal. The pandemic forced rapid adaptation, blurred work-life boundaries, and led to a mass reassessment of what matters. Now, many creatives are still carrying the weight of that emotional toll and asking deeper questions about purpose, fulfilment, and direction.

Career ladders have been replaced by flat structures
In many agencies and companies, growth now looks less like a ladder and more like a hallway. Without clear titles to aim for or structured development plans, it can be hard to measure progress or even feel like it is happening at all.

AI is changing the game and the confidence
With generative tools now part of daily creative workflows, some professionals are thriving but many are worried. Will their value be diminished? Will their creativity be replaced? These uncertainties create hesitation, and hesitation stalls growth.

Hybrid and freelance roles can be more isolating than we admit
Flexibility is amazing but without regular feedback, team collaboration, or a strong creative culture, it is easy to lose sight of what you are aiming for.

The quiet quitting era led to quiet careers
Many creatives took a step back from hustle culture, which was healthy. But now, some are waking up in roles that feel like autopilot. The passion might still be there; it is just buried under fatigue and routine.

At Artisan, we hear this from candidates, clients, freelancers, and full-timers. The uncertainty is loud, but so is the desire for something better.

Gut-Check: Are You Actually Stuck or Just Ready for a Shift?

Not all stagnation is bad. Sometimes it is just the pause before a leap. But if that pause has turned into paralysis, it might be time to take a closer look.

Run through this quick creative gut-check:

Are you learning something new each month?
Are you proud of your most recent project?
Do your current tasks energise you or just fill your calendar?
Do you feel like you are building toward something bigger?
When you describe your job to someone else, do you light up or look away?

If you are not answering yes to at least a couple of those, you might not be stuck but you are ready for change. And that is okay. That is how growth starts.

How to Start Growing Again Without Burning Everything Down

Good news: growth does not have to mean blowing up your life. Sometimes it is about tweaking the dials, reigniting the spark, or simply giving yourself permission to explore.

Here are a few powerful and manageable ways to get moving again:

Ask for mentorship or feedback
Even a 20-minute chat with us, a senior creative, or an old boss can provide new direction, challenge your thinking, or remind you of your strengths.

Tackle a stretch project
Try something slightly out of your comfort zone, like animation if you are a designer, a pitch deck if you are a copywriter, or mentoring if you have never led before. Growth often lives in the unfamiliar.

Refresh your portfolio
This is not just about aesthetics. Rebuilding or curating your portfolio forces reflection: What are you proud of? What no longer aligns? What story are you telling?

Talk to a recruiter (hi, we are Artisan)
We see the industry from all sides. Whether you are actively job-hunting or just looking for a career sense-check, we can help you identify what is missing and what is possible.

Explore the market
Even if you are not ready to apply, checking out new job listings, reading role descriptions, or seeing what is trending can spark new energy or reveal what you are worth.

Rejoin the creative crowd
Events, workshops, networking nights—they exist for a reason. Surround yourself with other creatives who are learning, failing, pivoting, and thriving. It is contagious in the best way.

What Artisan Is Doing About It

At Artisan, we believe creative careers should not be linear. But they should be exciting, evolving, and deeply fulfilling.

We have been supporting Aussie creatives for over 27 years and we know that growth looks different for everyone. That is why we are building solutions that do not just land jobs but spark confidence, clarity, and long-term momentum.

Here is how we are helping:

Portfolio feedback
Real advice from industry professionals, not generic comments. We help you showcase your strengths and tell the story employers need to hear.

Interview prep with heart
We help you prepare beyond the CV, building your confidence, narrative, and ability to pitch yourself in a human way.

Meaningful job matches
We do not believe in just filling a seat. We match you with roles that suit your strengths, ambitions, and values.

Real human recruiters
We are not here to push paper or ghost your application. We listen, advise, and champion you through every step.

If you are feeling stuck, you do not have to go it alone. Whether you are ready for a big change or just want to talk it out, we are here.