Research

Developer Burnout Crisis

52% of developers link burnout to colleagues quitting

Overview

Research on the burnout epidemic in software development and how reducing routine toil through AI agents improves developer experience and retention.

Key Findings

  • 52% report peers leaving due to burnout (Harness 2024)
  • 65% still affected by burnout even after AI introduction
  • Direct ROI connection: agents reduce toil, improve DX and retention
  • Burnout reduction correlates with better team stability into 2026

Sources

  • Harness Developer Productivity Report 2024
  • Medium AI Burnout Research