At a time when layoffs, low hiring rates, and a culture of mass applying have contributed to a frenzied job market, taking a career break could be one of your riskiest decisions.
But what if it ends up being the best?
Government data shows that while career breaks are relatively common — those trying to return to work make up around 30% of unemployed Americans — reentering the workforce isn’t always straightforward. In a 2026 study published in Labour Economics, 163 recruiters in Belgium were asked whether they would interview or hire a hypothetical candidate who’d taken a career break. The likelihood generally decreased with each month the…
