Drupal remains the backbone of many government and public sector websites. The CMS itself is thriving. Recent innovations like Starshot, Recipes, and Project Browser show how active and forward-looking the community continues to be.
Yet, in the past six months, I have watched several well-established, well-regarded Drupal agencies shed at least twenty percent of their staff. Freelancers and independent developers are seeing fewer opportunities. New developers are struggling to find their way into the ecosystem.
We are seeing a strange paradox. The open source project is strong, but the professional ecosystem is shrinking.
Why is this happening?
Several forces are converging.
- Tightening budgets. Many public and private clients are delaying or downsizing large digital projects.
- Longer sales cycles. Big Drupal projects can take more than a year to land, which makes agency pipelines unpredictable.
- Rise of SaaS platforms. For many smaller sites, tools like Squarespace, Wix, and Webflow now feel good enough.
- Perceived complexity. Drupal is powerful, but still requires specialized hosting and skilled developers to install, customize, and maintain.
- Talent pipeline drying up. Fewer junior Drupal roles are being created. Fewer agencies can afford to train new developers.
Can Drupal grow in this climate?
A free CMS is a fantastic achievement. But without a sustainable commercial ecosystem, with agencies, freelancers, and in-house teams making a living, growth becomes difficult.
For Drupal to thrive long term, we need:
- Clients who see the value and are willing to invest in Drupal
- Developers and agencies who can run viable businesses delivering Drupal
- A talent pipeline that brings new developers into the fold
- Clear positioning in today’s web ecosystem
Where do we go from here?
I am encouraged by what the community is doing, especially the focus on simplifying adoption and lowering the barrier to entry.
But we also need to look squarely at the realities of today’s digital market.
Here are some practical ways agency owners, freelancers, and Drupal professionals might adapt right now.
1. Focus on Drupal’s strengths
Drupal shines for:
- Complex, multi-stakeholder websites
- Government, education, NGOs, enterprise
- Accessibility and compliance
- Highly secure applications
- Integration-heavy environments
- Structured content and multi-channel publishing
We should lean into these strengths, not try to compete with no-code platforms for simple sites.
2. Help clients understand “why Drupal?”
Do not assume clients already know Drupal’s value. Articulate the case.
- Total cost of ownership over time
- Flexibility and future-proofing
- Security and compliance
- Control over data
- Community-driven innovation (instead of vendor lock-in)
3. Experiment with new business models
- Maintenance and support as a service (subscription based)
- Hybrid builds, Drupal backends with lighter frontends
- Drupal platform offerings, pre-built starter kits for specific verticals
- Partnerships and white-label work
4. Invest in the talent pipeline
- Mentor juniors and new contributors
- Support Drupal training initiatives
- Open pathways for new developers to get real-world experience
Without new talent, the ecosystem will age and contract.
5. Collaborate across the community
This is not the time for agency silos. The Drupal ecosystem is stronger when small agencies, freelancers, and large shops share knowledge and opportunities.
- Co-sell on larger projects
- Share best practices
- Contribute to Drupal core and contrib together
- Build regional networks
Final thoughts
I remain an optimist about Drupal’s future, but also a realist.
The Drupal of 2025 will not look like the Drupal ecosystem of 2015. That is not a bad thing. It is evolution.
If we embrace change, focus on Drupal’s core strengths, and build a healthy, sustainable professional ecosystem, Drupal can absolutely continue to grow and serve the public good for many years to come.
But we cannot ignore the signs. The ecosystem needs attention, investment, and adaptation.
If you are interested in more reflections on Drupal, check out The Challenges of Building Your Own Website Solo, another recent post in this series.
I would love to hear your perspective.
Are you seeing these trends in your part of the Drupal world?
How are you navigating this moment?
Leave a Reply