Survey finds 87% of women in tech report burnout, with AI pressure blamed

The scale of the problem

A large majority of women working in technology say they are experiencing burnout, according to a new industry survey reported by TechRadar. The 2026 Speak Up report from IT services firm Ensono polled 1,500 female-identifying technology professionals and found that 87% described themselves as burned out. More than half placed themselves in the moderate, very or extremely burned out categories.

The findings suggest burnout is not a fringe issue among this group but something close to a shared experience. The report links the trend to a mix of new and old workplace pressures, with artificial intelligence emerging as a fresh source of strain.

AI skills bring new expectations

The women surveyed are not avoiding AI. According to the report, 70% rate their AI knowledge and skills as advanced or expert, and 97% can point to at least one career benefit from using the technology. That confidence, however, comes with a cost.

A total of 42% said the use of AI creates an assumption that they should turn out more work in less time. In other words, the productivity gains the tools promise are being read by some employers as a reason to raise output, adding to the workload rather than easing it. The survey also found that 43% are focused on continually building new skills for their work, and 34% feel pressure to remain available at all times.

Visibility and leadership ambitions

Burnout is also being driven by the effort required to be seen and to advance. The report says 83% of respondents aspire to executive leadership roles, which puts many of them under pressure to both succeed and be visibly doing so.

That combination of ambition, constant availability and the need to keep pace with AI creates a heavy load. Ensono's chief people officer, Meredith Graham, said women in technology are building the AI expertise their organizations need, but that continued learning takes time to adjust. She added that business leaders need to give clear guidance on how AI adoption changes what is expected of employees.

What employers can do

The report frames burnout as avoidable with the right workplace policies and clearer expectations. Graham said that as roles evolve, supporting flexibility and different routes to advancement is fundamental to strengthening business culture.

For readers in tech, the survey is a reminder that AI adoption is not only a training question but a workload and management question. The findings come from a single report based on self-reported survey responses, so they describe how respondents feel about their jobs rather than a clinical diagnosis. Still, the scale of the response suggests employers have room to set clearer boundaries around output, availability and career progression.