State of Devs 2026 survey results: developers are exhausted
The 2026 State of Devs survey reveals widespread burnout, job insecurity, and cynicism among software developers. Many respondents report feeling drained and are considering career changes due to industry instability.
Why it matters
The mental health crisis in the tech workforce could have long-term implications for software quality, innovation, and industry retention rates.
This year's overview was contributed by Miranda Heath , founding director and researcher at the Software Stewardship Lab . It is an uncertain time to be a developer.
Nearly half of this year's survey respondents had experienced job insecurity and insufficient wages. A quarter had been laid off at some point in their career, and nearly 1 in 10 had been laid off within the last 9 months. Over a quarter anticipated needing to change careers altogether within the next 5 years.
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