The Linux Foundation has released its 9th annual Open Source Jobs Report, and the outlook is positive for the open source job market.

Open source software and platforms offer a number of advantages over commercial options, not the least of which is cost. In addition to cost, open source software provides organizations more control, as well as the potential for improved security and privacy.

According to the Linux Foundation, in partnerships with edX, 97% of hiring managers cite hiring open source talent as a top priority. In addition, 50% of those managers plan on hiring more open source talent this year. Some 44% of hiring managers said they wanted to hire individuals who had actively contributed to an open source project.

Open source professionals are noticing the uptick in demand.

Interestingly, open source professionals report being headhunted more in 2021 than during the past several years, with 55% of professionals receiving more outreach in the past six months than the prior six months. During the pandemic in 2020, only 29% reported receiving more outreach, while 21% heard from recruiters less often. Only 10% of respondents this year stated the volume of recruiter outreach has decreased for them.

The Linux Foundation’s report is good news for open source professionals and the community at large.