An Art in ItselfManaging your creative employees can be a challenge, but doing it well is crucial to your business.

The shrinking U.S. manufacturing sector exposes a maxim of themodern economy: The work we once did with our hands is doneincreasingly in our heads. The United States is transitioning intoan idea economy where innovation is replacing industrialization,and creativity is the key to selling products and services.

Employees with a creative side are leading the way into the ideaeconomy. About 38 million workers-roughly 30 percent of the workforce-are employed in creative professions, and the number keepsgrowing, says Richard Florida, author ofThe Rise of theCreative Class(Basic Books). Over the next decade,"we're going to see the 'creativization' of ourentire economy," Florida says.