Navigating the Corporate Ladder: The Impact of Career Breaks on Women’s Leadership Roles

In the modern workplace, career breaks present a unique set of challenges, particularly for women who temporarily step away from their professional careers.  

According to a recent report published by LinkedIn News, women are 43% more likely than men to have a career break listed on their LinkedIn profiles — with full-time parenting being the most common reason for stepping away from a career.  

The top reasons cited for career breaks among women were listed as:  

1. Full-time parenting 
2. Health and well-being 
3. Caregiving 
4. Career transition 
5. Professional development 
6. Relocation 
7. Personal goal pursuit 

This contrasts with data on male professionals who rank the reasons for taking breaks differently, as the following: 

1. Retirement  
2. Career transitions  
3. Professional development 
4. Personal goal pursuit 
5. Health and well-being 
6. Layoff 
7. Full-time parenting 

Despite making up nearly half of the workforce, women continue to face significant hurdles when they return — including a lack of representation in leadership positions. According to the report, only 34% of women in the U.S. workforce hold VP roles and around 27% in C-suite positions. 

The disparity is further widened by the fact that paid paternity leave is offered at only 32% of organizations, compared to only 40% for those offering maternity leave. Moreover, Census Bureau data reveals that women are more likely to utilize available paid leave, highlighting the ongoing challenge in caregiving. Upon re-entering the workforce, women often find themselves navigating challenges to balance professional aspirations with personal responsibilities. LinkedIn’s data reveals that nearly 33% of women who take a career break return to the same industry that they worked in before.  

As more companies aim to support women returning from career breaks, offering flexibility and understanding the unique challenges individuals face will be important. The conversation around career breaks and their impact on women’s professional trajectories is not just about equity but also about realizing the potential of a diverse workforce in the era of AI and remote work.