---
title: "Sources influencing skill development — Community data 2026"
url: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/community/data/community-skills
year: 2026
chapter: "community"
question: "CommunitySkills"
section: "Communities and learning"
licence: "ODbL 1.0 (https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/)"
---

# Sources influencing skill development

Skill direction comes from immediate social circles, not formal channels. Coworkers/peers (44%) and managers (33%) dominate. YouTube/video creators (26%) and online communities (23%) outpace documentation (18%) and job postings (20%).

Asked as: Which sources most influence what technical, AI, or professional skills you decide to learn next? Select up to 3. (`CommunitySkills`, multi select, optional, v2026.1)

## Options offered

1. Coworkers, classmates, or peers
2. Manager or workplace expectations
3. Online communities or forums
4. Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange
5. YouTube or video creators
6. Podcasts
7. Newsletters or blogs
8. Social media
9. Courses or certifications
10. Documentation
11. AI tools or chatbots
12. Job postings or labor market signals
13. Conferences or events
14. I am not currently deciding what to learn next

## Results

### All Respondents

n = 15,260

|  | Respondents | Percent |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Coworkers, classmates, or peers | 6,695 | 43.9% |
| Manager or workplace expectations | 4,986 | 32.7% |
| YouTube or video creators | 3,931 | 25.8% |
| Online communities or forums | 3,519 | 23.1% |
| Job postings or labor market signals | 2,971 | 19.5% |
| Documentation | 2,687 | 17.6% |
| Newsletters or blogs | 2,062 | 13.5% |
| AI tools or chatbots | 2,032 | 13.3% |
| I am not currently deciding what to learn next | 1,673 | 11.0% |
| Conferences or events | 1,434 | 9.4% |
| Social media | 1,384 | 9.1% |
| Courses or certifications | 1,077 | 7.1% |
| Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange | 1,012 | 6.6% |
| Podcasts | 843 | 5.5% |

In context: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/community/data.md