Jessica O'ConnorEmployment gaps are becoming a standard feature of UK CVs, according to Mind the Gap: 2025 UK Employment Gap Report from LiveCareer UK.
The study analysed 19 million CVs created on LiveCareer’s platform between January 2020 and June 2025 and revealed that long-term unemployment and short-term instability have grown sharply.
In 2025, 24% of jobseekers recorded a career break of 12 months or more, up from 18% in 2020.
The research also found that one in three CVs now includes a gap of at least six months, compared with one in four five years ago.
Even very short breaks are more common, with nearly a million people reporting gaps of less than a month, highlighting frequent job changes and short-term disruptions.
The share of CVs showing uninterrupted employment has dropped from 61% in 2020–21 to just 51% this year.
After some post-pandemic recovery, 2025 saw a renewed rise in career breaks, with long-term gaps still reflecting the lasting effects of COVID-19 and other economic pressures.
Jasmine Escalera, career expert at LiveCareer UK, said: “These findings reflect an undeniable reality of today’s labour market: career gaps are now the norm, not the exception.
“Whether due to layoffs, caregiving, reskilling, or life transitions, most people now have a gap in their CV.
“It’s time employers adjust their expectations—and job seekers learn to speak confidently about their career breaks.”
