
European Survey Maps Value Diversity Among Tech Workers: Developers Stand Out as a Distinct Liberal, Individualistic, and Universalistic Elite
A groundbreaking study provides the first large-scale, data-driven analysis of tech workers’ values across Europe. The findings reveal that while developers tend to be highly individualistic, open to change, and guided by universalist ideals, non-developers align more closely with other occupational groups such as managers and professionals. This challenges the notion of a single, unified “tech elite” and underscores the importance of internal diversity in shaping the ethics and impact of the technology sector.
In an age where digital innovation influences nearly every aspect of life, tech workers are often seen as a powerful and cohesive group. However, new research led by Gilad Be’ery and Dr Dmitry Epstein from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem paints a more nuanced picture. Drawing on nearly a decade of data from the European Social Survey and grounded in the influential Schwartz Theory of Basic Human Values, the study demonstrates that developers possess unique value profiles, distinct from both the general public and other professionals.
Developers, the study finds, are marked by a liberal worldview—embracing openness to change, individualism, and universalism—while showing less affinity for conservatism and tradition. “These findings matter because developers are not just employees; they are the architects of the technological infrastructures that shape our lives,” explains Gilad Be’ery, PhD candidate at the Federmann School of Public Policy and Governance and Head of the Economic Reforms Program at the Israel Democracy Institute. “Understanding their values is crucial for grasping the ethical foundations of our digital future and the broader societal implications.”
The research also highlights significant diversity within the tech workforce. Non-developer roles—such as IT support and QA specialists—share more in common with other occupational elites than with developers, challenging the simplistic image of a monolithic tech class. “The popular image of tech workers as a single, cohesive class is misleading,” adds Dr Dmitry Epstein, senior lecturer at the Federmann School. “Developers are more open to change and less conservative than non-developers, which has important implications for public perceptions and policy discussions about ethics, responsibility, and diversity in tech.”
The study further suggests that the distinctive values of tech workers may be influenced by the sector’s demographic profile: predominantly young, well-educated, affluent men. This correlation highlights the need for greater diversity—not only to promote equity and opportunity but also to influence the values embedded in technology.
By illuminating the complex value landscape within the tech industry, this research paves the way for deeper conversations about how the beliefs of developers shape the technologies we depend on.
The full paper, “The high-tech elite? Assessing the values of tech-workers using the European Social Survey 2012–2020,” is now available in New Media & Society and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448251333343.