Professional Development Tops List of Job Priorities for Open Source Pros

Professional fulfillment remains the highest priority for open source pros when choosing a job, according to the 2026 Open Source Professionals Job Survey Report released by Linux Professional Institute (LPI) in partnership with Open Source JobHub. In fact, 97% of the survey respondents rate professional fulfillment as essential, very important, or somewhat important. 

Other key considerations include:

• Work-life balance (96%)
• Company culture and values (94%)
• Guidelines for using open source (92%)
• Employer-provided training (83%)

The survey respondents — comprising a mix of admins (49%), developers (39%), and non-technical professionals (12%) — also reported a high level of experience, with the majority saying they've worked in their field for at least 11 years:

• Still looking for first job (4%)
• Fewer than 3 years (3%)
• 4-10 years (11%)
• 11-20 years (23%)
• 21+ years (57%)

Additionally, 67% of respondents are either actively looking for a new position or open to the right opportunity.

“This report offers a unique view into what open source professionals are looking for in their job roles, which is particularly interesting in today’s volatile job market,” says Brian Osborn, Founder of OSJH and CEO and Publisher of Linux New Media.

Download the free report to learn more.