How AI is Transforming Burnout in high-impact jobs
Leveraging AI to reduce burnout for frontline workers. 🙏🏻
Good Morning,
Today’s piece falls in our section of Benefactor, where we think about AI for good.
While it is unclear how much cognitive labor AI will replace in the coming years or even how much it is boosting production in real-world settings, one of the “AI for Good” topics that we don’t hear enough about is how AI will contribute to reducing burnout.
In 2025, it appears that young workers, presumably those exposed to more financial pressure and more digital information overload are experiencing burnout to a greater degree than more established workers in the labor force. Long working hours and financial pressures due to things like higher housing costs are squeezing professionals even as recessionary uncertainty lingers in mid 2025. There is a cognitive load to uncertainty, and it’s not clear what AI’s impact will be.
Burnout is at an all time high & rising!
Burnout in the workplace reached an all-time high in 2024. Around 82% of 1,500 white-collar, desk-based knowledge workers in North America, Asia, and Europe surveyed by DHR Global reported being “slightly” to “extremely” burned out.
This is a worrying trend, and Generative AI tools (agents, models, products) have the potential to improve well-being here.
Professionals experiencing burnout appears to be on the rise in the 2020s. Curiously this is spiking around the same time Generative AI came on to the scene. What could this mean?
How big of a problem is work burnout?
The Balanced Boss Newsletter
Generative AI will Reduce Burnout over time
I started thinking about this article that one of the lowest hanging fruit for AI in white collar work isn’t just to replace repetitive cognitive labor but to holistically aim to reduce burnout in professionals like some of the highest paying and most common white collar professionals: Lawyers, doctors, dentists, architects, accountants, financial managers, software engineers, cybersecurity professionals and founders and executives of various kinds, for example. Female and younger professionals seem to be at higher risk to symptoms of burnout.
I asked Colleen to do a deep dive on this topic.
Burnout is a Growing Problem in the Workforce
Younger generations are more likely to say they feel burnt out, with 87% of Gen Z members saying they are to some degree. They were followed by 85% of millennials, 76% of Gen Xers and 57% of baby boomers.
Top drivers of burnout include:
Long hours, 58%
Overwhelming workloads, 35%
Difficulty balancing work and personal life, 34%
Fear of layoffs/job security, 24%
Personal conflicts with coworkers, 21%
Colleen’s Articles
Why Being Called a “Rockstar” at Work Should Give You the Ick
How Leaders Balance Their Own Mental Health and Their Team’s
Let’s dive into the deep dive now by the guest contributor.
“Burnout is a significant issue, especially in healthcare and education, where workers face long hours, high emotional labor, and overwhelming workloads. AI can automate administrative tasks like scheduling, grading, and patient record management, enabling workers to spend more time on their core responsibilities, like patient care or teaching. AI can also assist with decision-making, which helps reduce cognitive overload and emotional strain.” - Colleen Millerman
The Case for AI as Improving Well-Being in the Workplace
In this article:
The article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help reduce burnout in high-stress, frontline professions like healthcare and education, which have faced increased demands and emotional labor, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
It emphasizes that AI is not about replacing jobs but supporting workers by automating repetitive tasks, reducing decision fatigue, and alleviating administrative burdens, allowing professionals to focus on more meaningful, human-centered aspects of their work.
The article highlights that AI is already being used in these industries to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and support workers' well-being.
Additionally, younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are embracing AI as a tool to enhance productivity, automate tasks, and optimize their careers.
I hope you find the topic as relevant, salient and important to society as I do. Part of the mission of AI Supremacy is to explore the impact of AI in society, the labor force and the future of work.
Leveraging AI to reduce burnout for frontline workers. 🙏🏻
February-March, 2025 by
Preface
In my personal life, I am surrounded by individuals who dedicate themselves to front-line, high-stress professions. Professions that, for many, have only become more demanding in recent years. I have a mother in healthcare, a brother-in-law who served as both a cop and a teacher in the last 5 years and uncles and cousins who are firefighters.
All of them worked tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are still carrying that weight. The relentless pressures they face daily, both during and post-pandemic, are not unique to them. These workers—along with millions of others in high-stress industries—are the backbone of our society, and yet, they are also the most vulnerable to burnout.
This deeply personal connection to the issue of burnout drives my passion for exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help alleviate some of the pressures faced by these workers, particularly in sectors like healthcare and education. These are fields where burnout has become a consistent problem, impacting not just the well-being of the workers but the quality of service provided to society as well.
And while AI is often discussed in the context of automation and efficiency, I want to explore a deeper, more human-centered approach: how AI can relieve burnout and transform work for the better.
Breaking the cycle of burnout without AI
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the workforce has sparked significant debate—will AI replace human jobs, or will it be used to enhance productivity and well being?
Nowhere is this question more relevant than in frontline, high-impact professions such as healthcare and education, where burnout rates are at an all-time high.
A quick reminder, burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it has become a global crisis, impacting industries that directly touch our lives. You cannot scroll LinkedIn without running into a post, newsletter or comment about burnout.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially begun to recognize burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”, defining it as ‘chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” (WHO, 2019). Characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (cynicism) and a low sense of personal accomplishment at work.
From healthcare to education, the front-line workers who power these sectors are struggling, and their mental and physical exhaustion affects not just them, but society as a whole. With the integration of AI into our workplaces, there’s an opportunity to transform the way we work, alleviate burnout, and create a healthier, more sustainable work environment.
We know that in industries like healthcare and education, workers are expected to balance heavy workloads, emotional labor and administrative burdens that contribute to stress, fatigue and declining job satisfaction—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enter AI.
Instead of replacing frontline workers, AI is increasingly being developed and deployed as a workforce ally—allowing workers to automate repetitive tasks, improve efficiency and even support mental health.
AI powered tools are even helping doctors and nurses reduce paperwork, helping teachers provide personalized learning plans and assisting emergency responders in decision-making under pressure.
This shift is being described as “AI a co-pilot, not an autopilot” by the Harvard Business Review. Where AI supports and becomes a partner to human expertise rather than replacing it.
As AI continues to evolve, its role in reshaping high-stress professions will become more critical. By leveraging AI responsibility, organizations can better support and empower their frontline workers while improving efficiency and preventing burnout.
Burnout is a Growing Crisis
Burnout is not just a personal struggle; its an industry wide issues affecting everything from retention rates, to job satisfaction to overall productivity (Harvard Business Review, 2023). The professions we see most impacted are those that demand long hours, emotional resilience and extensive documentation—all while dealing with growing demands, lack of adequate resources and in some cases life-or-death situations.
The growing concern of burnout for Healthcare workers
Burnout within the healthcare profession has been a persistent concern, significantly impacting both healthcare providers and patient care quality. In 2021 less than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the burnout rate was record-high at 62.8% according to the American Medical Association (AMA, 2022).
In 2022, the survey was completed again among healthcare professionals and slightly improved; a decrease to 53% of professionals stating they experienced at least one symptom of burnout. The 2023 numbers continued to show improvement declining to 48.2%, dropping below 50% for the first time in four years (AMA, 2024). Although improving, this still highlights that nearly half of the healthcare workforce are still experiencing burnout symptoms.
According to the Office of the U.S Surgeon General there are a range of societal, cultural, structural, and organizational factors that contribute to burnout among health workers, and examples of these are depicted in the below image (HHS, 2024).
Healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable to Burnout
Frontline workers spend more time on paperwork than on the work they trained for. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that U.S. doctors spend nearly twice as much time on administrative tasks as they do with patients. (CDC, 2024).
“I became a doctor to help people, not to fill out paperwork for hours every day.”
— Dr. Mark Reynolds, Emergency Medicine Physician
The burdensome administrative process along with the constant high-stakes decisions—known as clinical decision fatigue—has caused more delays in patient care and an increase in medical errors.
Over half of teachers want to leave their profession due to stress and burnout
Similarly, burnout in education has reached alarming levels.
According to the National Education Association, nearly 55% of public-school teachers report feeling burned out, with many citing the pressure to perform amidst rising expectations, administrative workloads, and student behavioral issues. (NEA, via EdTech Magazine, 2023).
The pandemic has only intensified these challenges, with teachers being thrust into remote learning environments without adequate training or resources.
In fact, a 2023 study from the American Educational Research Association revealed that burnout rates among teachers increased by 35% post-pandemic, with 70% of teachers considering leaving the profession within the next two years due to the overwhelming stress. (HMH, 2023).
The National Education Association also reported that teachers are spending over 20 hours per week on grading, lesson planning, and compliance reporting on top of the hours they are spending doing actual teaching in the classroom.(Education Week, 2025).
The good news is that AI holds the potential to address many of the factors contributing to burnout in education. And for some educators and students they’ve already begun implementing AI to assist with administrative tasks, grading, scheduling and student performance.
The Key Drivers in Burnout Across Industries
Long hours, administrative burdens, and emotional exhaustion are pushing healthcare professionals, educators, and first responders to their limits.
We’ve identified three core drivers among these high-impact roles: administrative tasks, emotional labor and decision making fatigue and lack of a work-life-balance.
Administrative Tasks
In both healthcare and education, employees are burdened by an increasing amount of administrative tasks.
In healthcare, this might mean hours spent on documentation, insurance processing, and patient intake procedures. In education, it involves grading papers, preparing lesson plans, and managing classroom behavior. These tasks are essential but time-consuming, often detracting from the core activities that employees are passionate about.
AI can—and we’ve already seen where AI can significantly alleviate this burden by automating routine tasks.
In healthcare, AI-powered tools can handle administrative duties such as scheduling, patient data entry, and even managing insurance claims. In education, AI can automate grading, schedule meetings, and even track student progress, allowing educators to spend more time teaching and less time on paperwork.
Emotional Labor and Decision Fatigue
Both healthcare workers and educators face emotional labor and decision fatigue on a daily basis. In healthcare, the emotional toll of patient care can be draining, particularly when dealing with life-and-death situations. Medical errors increase when physicians experience cognitive overload.(CDC, 2024).
Teachers, too, face emotional challenges, exhaustion from managing student behavior, curriculum demands, and parental expectations. As they are tasked with managing students’ academic and personal growth in an environment often fraught with societal challenges. Emotional labor is taxing because it requires workers to put aside their own feelings and focus on the needs of others, which can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.
AI can help mitigate emotional labor by providing decision-making support. In healthcare, AI systems can offer diagnostic assistance, suggest treatment options, and flag potential risks, all of which help reduce the cognitive load on healthcare workers. In education, AI-driven tools can track student progress, offer personalized learning paths, and suggest interventions, easing the emotional burden placed on teachers.
Lack of Work-Life Balance
The lack of work-life balance is a significant contributor to burnout across all industries, but it’s especially pronounced in healthcare and education. Workers in these fields often sacrifice personal time to meet the demands of their roles. Healthcare professionals work long shifts, sometimes in stressful or life-threatening environments, and educators often take work home with them, grading papers or planning lessons after hours.
“44% of full-time frontline workers work over 50 hours per week” (Gallup, 2023). The always-on work culture is causing increased stress, sleep deprivation, and turnover.
AI can improve work-life balance by streamlining work processes and offering more efficient ways to complete tasks. By automating routine administrative work and providing decision support, AI frees up time for workers to focus on their personal lives and recharge. Furthermore, AI can offer flexible, personalized work schedules for employees, giving them more control over their time.
Where AI Fits In
Burnout won’t disappear overnight, but technology—specifically AI—offers a powerful opportunity to rethink how work gets done.
In education, AI is already reshaping how students learn and how teachers work. 38% of teachers have adopted AI in their classrooms as of 2024 (Education Week, 2025).
AI-powered educational platforms are being used to tailor learning experiences to individual student needs, allowing for greater personalization and faster identification of learning gaps. For example, AI-based tutoring systems can assist students with difficult subjects and provide instant feedback, enhancing their educational experience.
On the teacher’s side, AI is reducing administrative burdens, such as grading, lesson planning, and tracking student progress. Teachers spend less time on repetitive tasks and can focus on creative lesson planning and engaging with students. This shift helps alleviate some of the mental and emotional strain that comes with teaching.
“AI allows teachers to spend more time connecting with students and less time on paperwork, increasing job satisfaction and reducing burnout.” — Dr. Emma Lewis, Education Technology Researcher (EdTech Magazine, 2023).
Additionally, AI tools like automated grading systems and learning management platforms free up valuable time for teachers to develop creative and interactive lesson plans, leading to better student engagement and ultimately improved learning outcomes.
On the healthcare side, AI has also made significant strides in alleviating these pressures by automating routine tasks, enhancing diagnostic processes and even improving patient outcomes.
Generative AI tools augmenting Physicians
AI-powered diagnostic tools are being integrated into healthcare to assist doctors and nurses in identifying conditions faster and more accurately. AI algorithms can analyze medical images, detect patterns, and predict health risks that might otherwise go unnoticed. These tools are also improving predictive analytics to anticipate patient needs and optimize care delivery.
“AI can take on repetitive and time-consuming tasks, giving clinicians more time for face-to-face care, which improves the patient experience and alleviates burnout.” — Dr. Susan West, Healthcare AI Expert (Definitive Healthcare, 2024).
In addition to diagnostics, AI is helping streamline administrative tasks, such as patient record management and appointment scheduling, which are significant sources of stress for healthcare professionals. By automating these functions, AI is cutting down on the paperwork and enabling staff to devote more time to patient care.
Overall, we are seeing a shift in the way these high-impact roles are leveraging AI and tackling the problem of burnout. The solution is taking the idea of burnout from a ‘me’ problem to a ‘we’ problem.
Editors: In 2025, a new array of AI products is entering the market that may help tackle burnout in industries like healthcare, legal profession and law firms and in education.
“AI helps reduce burnout not by replacing humans, but by empowering them to focus on the meaningful parts of their jobs.” — Dr. Sarah Jenkins, AI & Workplace Well-being Expert (Harvard Business Review, 2024)
The Integration of AI for a More Successful Future
As AI adoption accelerates, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in how frontline roles function. Instead of replacing jobs, AI is augmenting human capabilities, transforming industries such as healthcare, education, and emergency response. The future of work isn’t about AI taking over—it’s about creating AI-augmented workplaces where humans and machines collaborate effectively.
AI and Gen Z: A new workforce mindset
Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are embracing AI as a co-pilot in their careers, expecting greater integration of AI into their work. According to a 2024 Deloitte study, 70% of Gen Z workers believe AI enhances productivity and actively seek workplaces that incorporate advanced technologies (Deloitte, 2024).
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z is more inclined to leverage AI for:
Automating repetitive tasks
Optimizing schedules
Personalizing professional development paths
In healthcare, younger professionals use AI to speed up diagnostics and assist in clinical decision-making, improving patient care while reducing administrative burdens.
“For Gen Z, AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a way to reclaim time and reduce stress at work while focusing on what matters most.” — Deloitte, 2024
AI’s impact on work and productivity
A 2024 McKinsey report predicts that by 2030, AI could automate up to 30% of tasks in knowledge-based professions (McKinsey, 2024). However, this shift is not about job loss—it’s about empowering workers to:
Focus on high-value, human-centered tasks
Work in more flexible, outcome-based models
Experience greater job satisfaction as repetitive work diminishes
A World Economic Forum study estimates that AI-powered assistants will handle 80% of administrative burdens, allowing employees more time for strategic decision-making (World Economic Forum, 2024). Specific industry impacts include:
Healthcare: AI chatbots provide preliminary diagnoses before escalating cases to physicians.
Education: AI tutors personalized learning plans, enabling teachers to focus on critical thinking and student engagement.
AI helps with work-life-balance
AI-driven automation is also paving the way for a global shift toward shorter workweeks.
Countries like Iceland and Belgium have trialed reduced workweeks, with positive outcomes on employee well-being and efficiency (OECD Report, 2023).
AI automation supports the movement toward a 4-day workweek, reducing hours while maintaining productivity.
Additionally, AI is being leveraged to support mental health and resilience in the workplace:
AI-powered mental health platforms like Wysa, Woebot, and Headspace AI provide 24/7 support for stress management (APA, 2022).
Large organizations are integrating AI-driven wellness check-ins to monitor workforce well-being in real-time.
Challenges with ethical AI integration
Despite AI’s potential benefits, skepticism remains high—especially in industries where burnout is rampant and fears of job displacement persist. A 2024 Pew Research study found that (Pew Research, 2025):
62% of workers worry about AI replacing their jobs.
78% agree that AI can improve efficiency, but they lack trust in its decision-making.
55% of frontline employees feel their industry leaders have not clearly communicated how AI will be integrated.
“The challenge isn’t AI itself—it’s how organizations manage its adoption. Employees need transparency, training, and reassurance.” — MIT Sloan Management Review, 2024
Leadership in the Age of AI
The integration of AI requires leaders to evolve their strategies and adopt new leadership styles that embrace AI as a partner, not a competitor. According to the World Economic Forum, 50% of employees will need to reskill by 2025 to remain relevant in an AI-driven world (World Economic Forum, 2024).
Future leaders must:
Foster a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel supported in adopting new technologies.
Encourage continuous learning and reskilling to ensure AI adoption benefits all employees, not just younger generations.
Create an environment of trust, transparency, and ethical AI practices to ensure AI supports workers' well-being.
Preparing organizations for AI integration
To successfully navigate the future of work, organizations must take proactive steps:
Invest in Training and Reskilling: Provide continuous learning opportunities to ensure workers adapt alongside AI.
Promote Work-Life Balance with AI: Implement AI-powered scheduling tools to prevent employee burnout.
Foster Supportive Leadership: Engage employees in AI adoption, address concerns, and position AI as an ally, not a threat.
Implement Ethical AI Practices: Ensure AI systems are unbiased, transparent, and protect employee data privacy by involving workers, and investing in training.
A healthier—less burnout—future with AI
AI has the potential to radically transform the workplace, improving efficiency while enhancing worker well-being. Industries facing burnout, like healthcare and education, can leverage AI to reduce strain and create healthier, more sustainable work environments.
The future of work isn’t about AI replacing people—it’s about AI being a co–pilot.
Productivity section on the Balanced Boss Newsletter.
The Newleaf Company, Colleen’s executive coaching and support advisory & consulting services
Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn.
Bio
Colleen is a strategic operations leader specializing in scaling organizations, streamlining systems, and driving sustainable growth. Passionate about leadership, wellness, and the evolving future of work, she explores the intersection of business and well-being through her everyday work and her growing Leadership & publication and community. Through writing, coaching, community-building, and consulting, she helps leaders navigate change and redefine the future of leadership. Email: info@leadershipand.org
Editor’s Addendum
I find Colleen a unique voice at the intersection of sustainable practices for Founders, CEOs and C-suite professionals and I just had to hear her take on AI’s impact. As many middle managers are let go, it’s a weird time for leadership. So many tools in the 2020s will emerge for white collar and frontline service professionals most prone to burnout (think Nurses or Lawyers).
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If the topic of AI in burnout interests you and you’d like to read more, subscribe to Colleen’s Newsletter:
I know we will be re-visiting this topic of AI in the labor force and in burnout in particular again soon. So much is going on relating to AI’s impact on healthcare, education and law in particular that is rarely covered in a detailed way.
SOURCES
World Health Organization Report, 2019 (WHO)
Why Employee Burnout Is a Hard Problem to Solve, 2023 (Harvard Business Review)
Physician Burnout Rate Drops Below 50% for First Time in 4 Years, 2024 (AMA)
Health Worker Well-Being Advisory, 2024 (HHS)
AMA Advocacy Efforts, 2022 (AMA)
Burnout and Stress in Healthcare, 2022 (APA)
AI in Healthcare Study, 2024 (Definitive Healthcare)
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2024 (CDC)
Here’s How Teachers Are Using AI to Save Time, 2025 (Education Week)
9th Annual Educator Confidence Report, 2023 (HMH)
AI for Teachers: Defeating Burnout, Boosting Productivity, 2023 (EdTech Magazine)
Education at a Glance, 2023 (OECD)
State of the Global Workplace, 2023 (Gallup)
How Leaders Can Balance AI and EQ, 2024 (Harvard Business Review)
Gen Z & Millennial Survey, 2024 (Deloitte)
The State of AI, 2024 (McKinsey)
Leveraging Generative AI for Job Augmentation and Workforce Productivity, 2024 (World Economic Forum)
U.S. Workers Are More Worried Than Hopeful About Future AI Use in the Workplace, 2025 (Pew Research)
 | A guest post by
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Colleen also writes the Newsletter Leadership &: https://www.leadershipand.org/
Spot on, Colleen!
The graphic for highlighting factors for burnout w/healthcare workers has an overwhelming overlap with ALL jobs. People are experiencing burnout more and more. Why?
Burnout is fundamentally misalignment. People will gladly work 60 hours a week on a goal if they think it is worthwhile AND benefits them. But when they're barely making ends meet, and they're not receiving a decent slice of the pie, burnout happens.
Great point with teachers. I'm sure plenty of people reading this have friends who were teachers, many of whom quit the profession because of burnout. Not uncommon.
When asked, they all always said the same thing: long hours and low pay.
I do think that AI can help with administrative tasks and alleviate repetitive and tedious paperwork. That said, The more time AI frees up, the more time people will have to keep working (and people will find work to do...).
AI will be co-pilot for some professions, and will entirely replace others. We've seen enough progress recently to know this is definitely the case. Doctors are safe. Administrative clerks are not.