The live analysis of 19 million CV shows long -term unemployment and short -term instability have become the new standard for British job seekers.
September 23, 2025 – New research from Livecareer UKA leading career service dedicated to CVs and motivation letters, reveals a long-standing and intensification trend: gaps in terms of employment in the United Kingdom are more common than ever and growing. Mind The Gap: 2025 Getting gap in the United Kingdom is based on an analysis of 19 million UK CVs created using the LiveCareer online CV manufacturer between January 2020 and June 2025. It follows the prevalence of gaps in terms of employment of different lengths, including shorts (1 to 2 months), the environment (3 to 6 months) and in the long term (12+ months).
Key results:
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High record in long -term gaps
In 2025, 24% of job seekers in the United Kingdom had a difference of more than 12 months, against 18% in 2020, marking a 33% increase in long-term unemployment. -
1 CV in 3 now shows a difference of 6 months and more
32% of CVs in 2025 included a difference of at least 6 months, compared to 24% in 2020. -
Short gaps reflect the volatility of jobs
Nearly a million job seekers in 2025 said a difference of less than 1 month, showing high turnover or short -term disturbances.
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CVs unrelated disappear
The share of candidates with an uninterrupted work history fell by 10 percentage points, from 61% in 2020-2021 to 51% in 2025. -
Inversion of recovery trends
After improvements in 2021-2024, 2025 experienced a drop in CVs unrelated, with only 51% of job seekers showing no gap – 61% in 2020 and 2021. -
Post-comfortable impact always visible
Long -term gaps increased between 2020 and 2022 and culminated in 2024, when more than 1.28 million CVs showed a break of more than 12 months.
Implications: redefine hiring standards and career accounts
“These results reflect an undeniable reality of today's labor market: career gaps are now the norm, no exception,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Livecareer UK. “Whether due to layoffs, care, reskilling or life transitions, most people now have a gap in their CV. It is time for employers to adapt their expectations – and job seekers learn to speak with confidence of their professional breaks. ”
For job seekers:
The stigma of career breaks fades – but confidence still counts.
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Use gaps to present resilience, reinvention or realignment.
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Highlight the transferable skills acquired during the time of absence, such as freelance, care, volunteering or education.
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Take advantage of the growing standardization of non -linear career paths to reposition your break as a strategic choice, not a backhand.
For employers:
The old hiring filters no longer reflect the landscape of talents today.
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With almost half of job seekers showing job gaps, requiring uninterrupted work risks on capable and motivated candidates.
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Employers should evolve towards skills first – emphasizing adaptability, potential and real world results on rigid deadlines.
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The adjustment of expectations can help extend access to various talent pools that have sailed on career changes, care provision or disruption linked to the pandemic.
To consult the complete analysis of employment differences in the United Kingdom or access career advice on how to fill the CV gaps, visit https://www.livecareer.co.uk/career-advice/uk-employment-gap-report or contact Peter Bryla at Peter.bryla@bold.com.
Methodology
The results are based on an analysis of 19 million UK CVs created using the LiveCareer online CV manufacturer between January 1, 2020 and June 31, 2025. Analysts used SQL to identify career gaps by analyzing the employment securities provided by users, employers and the dates of employment. To guarantee precision and reduce duplication, only the most recent CV of each user was included, assuming that this reflected its most recent professional history.
About Livecareeruk
Livecareeruk is the first career site empowering job seekers to find their way to professional success. Since 2005, Livecareeruk has helped more than 10 million workers worldwide by offering information, expert advice and support to increase their chances of finding a job in less time. This includes providing job seekers with CV models that can help them build stronger CVs and cover letters.
