Having considered the main features inherent in such modern economic phenomena as “creative economy” and “creative industries” we came to the conclusion that “creative economy” is more oriented towards solving material and economic problems of the society, while “creative industries” are focused on social and economic problems. At the same time, in both cases human intellectual and creative resource acts as the primary resource.The evidence and conclusions presented in the article can be used as a basis for a more rational study of peculiarities of the role and place of specialists working in the material and economic sphere (involved in activities specific to creative economy), as well as professionals employed in the social and economic sphere and clustered into creative industries without which the creative development of the material sphere of economy is impossible.