I have been thinking the same thing. I'm just returning to a job that I like after a 3-month parental leave of absence. A lot of co-workers have left our niche

I have been thinking the same thing. I'm just returning to a job that I like after a 3-month parental leave of absence. A lot of co-workers have left our niche boutique consultancy with a decent work-life balance to join... other niche boutique consultancies who advertise a decent work-life balance (with some weirdos going to the big guys... good luck with that). From my perspective, I'm seeing the last 6-or-so months of the Great Resignation as a zeitgeist of irrational optimism. Money was cheap, "post-COVID repairs" were a goldmine of opportunity, and companies were thriving regardless of their actual performance. If the burnout is catching up to people, it is probably because "returning to normal" no longer seems so palatable. So why not try a new normal in a fresh environment? If we see a 2001-level decline, I can only hope that a desire for the good old days helps people get their priorities straight and figure out a way to balance happiness, dignity, and success that doesn't involve LinkedIn recruiters.