Return Ready Survey Results
What women’s career breaks really look like
100s of Women
100s of Voices
100s of Stories
Hundreds of women shared their career break journeys.
The results are powerful.
Real stories. Real insights.
We think it’s time to tell the truth.
For too long, women have been told to hide their career breaks.
As part of our Return Ready Week 2025, we asked over 450 women to share their real experiences of stepping away from work and returning.
The results highlight the challenges, triumphs, and realities of career breaks – and why workplaces must do more to support women at every stage of their careers.
Why Women Step Away
Career breaks aren’t just about parental leave.
Yes, 40% of women took a break to raise children, but that’s not the whole story.
Caring for ageing relatives
Redundancy or burnout
Health challenges
Retraining or changing direction
👉 Career breaks are not “time off.” They’re about resilience, responsibility, and adaptation.
How Long Is a Career Break?
Forget the idea of “just a year away.”
Our survey showed:
33% were out of work for over 5 years
21% stepped away for 2–5 years
Only 15% returned in under 6 months
The reality?
Women often want to return sooner, but struggle to find doors open.
How Long Is a Career Break?
Forget the idea of “just a year away.”
Our survey showed:
33% were out of work for over 5 years
21% stepped away for 2–5 years
Only 15% returned in under 6 months
The reality?
Women often want to return sooner, but struggle to find doors open.
The Confidence Cliff
Confidence takes a hit after a break.
More than half of respondents rated their confidence at 5/10 or below when preparing to return.
Top concerns included:
Feeling outdated
Fear of bias or being judged
Worrying about how a gap would look on their CV
But women also told us about new strengths gained during breaks: empathy, resilience, prioritisation, and adaptability.
Why Women Return
It’s not ability that blocks women.
It’s systems.
74%: said flexible roles are too limited
50%: had experienced ageism or bias
30%: said CV gaps were a major obstacle
3 in 4: had never heard of a returnship programme
Beyond the Return
How the journey continues — and why support still matters.
Once back at work, many women find themselves adjusting to new routines, catching up on industry changes, and navigating ongoing pressure to prove themselves.
Without continued support, those early struggles with boundaries can impact confidence, career progression, and well-being.
Work & Life Boundaries
58% of women returning to work after a career break said they struggle with maintaining healthy work-life boundaries.
This shows how important flexible working, clear expectations, and support are for a successful return.
Balance isn’t just personal — it’s something workplaces need to build together.
Work & Life Boundaries
58% of women returning to work after a career break said they struggle with maintaining healthy work-life boundaries.
This shows how important flexible working, clear expectations, and support are for a successful return.
Balance isn’t just personal — it’s something workplaces need to build together.
"I felt guilty both at work and at home, like I wasn’t doing either properly"
Flexible Work Challenges
Over half of women returning to work face challenges making flexibility work in practice.
Finding the right balance remains a genuine hurdle, from unclear policies to juggling shifting schedules.
"No workplace really cares about your home life"
Low Self-Worth
Nearly half of women returning to work struggle with feelings of low self-worth.
Overcoming doubt and reclaiming confidence is a vital part of a successful return.
Low Self-Worth
Nearly half of women returning to work struggle with feelings of low self-worth.
Overcoming doubt and reclaiming confidence is a vital part of a successful return.
"What I needed most was someone to believe in me before I believed in myself"
Parental Guilt
Over half of women returning to work face parental guilt, balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities.
This emotional challenge can shape both their confidence and career decisions.
"I felt guilty both at work and at home, like I wasn’t doing either properly"
Four out of ten women (40%) have taken a career break due to parental leave
3 in 4 said the most challenging part was finding flexible or part-time roles.
More than one in ten (14%) women ended up out of work for five years or more
And nearly 3 in 4 rate their confidence about their return as medium or low.
3 headline findings:
Confidence is the biggest challenge.
Flexibility is non-negotiable.
Financial & identity drivers make return a priority.
What Women Need To Thrive
The message is clear.
Women need:
Confidence support to reframe their story
Clarity of direction to return with focus
Flexible roles that reflect real life
Employers who value skills over gaps
The Big Picture
Career breaks are not the end of ambition — they are part of it.
Women are return ready.
The real question is: Is the world of work ready for them?
Download The Full Return Ready Survey
Because..
"They're Not Starting Over...They're Starting Stronger"
Because..
"They're Not Starting Over...They're Starting Stronger"