Career breaks have become a means of battling burnout for many workers who are struggling with the workload, reassessing their goals, or even just hoping to upskill, according to the latest Matrix Recruitment data.
More young professionals are choosing to step back from full-time employment temporarily in Ireland for a number of reasons, according to a 2025 poll conducted by Matrix Recruitment, which cited burnout, stress, and the pursuit of work-life balance as driving forces.
Matrix’s Recruitment Manager Joanne Foley says such career pit stops show how dramatically values have shifted in modern Ireland: “In an always-on society, more and more employees are needing time off to recharge,” she says. “Today’s workforce values a work-life balance – and young people are more willing to put their jobs on hold to protect their values.”
Joanne flags key drivers of career breaks and how employers should respond to this rising trend in Ireland.
Burnout Culture
“Burnout refers to high-pressure roles and always-on work cultures, that results in exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed by the workload,” explains Joanne. In a poll conducted by Matrix Recruitment earlier this year, over a third of respondents (36 percent ) cited burnout or stress as their main reason for taking a career break. “Although high-stakes jobs like surgeons or actuaries often experience this, it can actually happen in any industry or stage of your career,” Joanne says. “Employers trying to ignore this fact won’t make it go away.”
Mental Health Awareness
“There is greater recognition that protecting mental health is central to sustainable performance,” adds Joanne. She explains that stepping away from work can give employees vital space to reset, reduce stress and prevent burnout. By approaching career breaks as part of a wider wellbeing culture, employers can demonstrate genuine care for staff as people, not just workers. Joanne says this “fosters trust and strengthens the employee-employer relationship.”
Life Reassessment
“Many younger workers today are questioning whether the traditional nine-to-five path truly serves them,” Joanne says. “This may have led some to seek out flexible roles, while other people took structured breaks to travel.” Indeed, 24 percent of those surveyed as part of the Matrix Recruitment poll took a career break for a better work-life balance, while 36 percent wanted to pursue a new interest or travel. “Employers who ignore this significant shift in values risk alienating the talent that is in their interest to retain,” warns Joanne.
Upskilling and Career Pivoting
The Matrix Recruitment survey also revealed that 36 percent of respondents decided to take a career break to pursue a new interest or travel. “We’ve seen many people stepping away to complete qualifications, learn new skills, or making the move into growing industries, like sustainability,” Joanne notes, which can benefit employers when staff return with fresh perspectives and added expertise. “Encouraging upskilling can carve out a pathway back to the company and improve retention.”
Focussing on solutions
Joanne believes it’s time for employers to rethink how they engage and retain staff: “Rather than seeing career breaks as a risk, smart companies can treat them as part of a longer-term talent strategy. Building a culture where employees feel safe to leave and welcomed back, can enhance loyalty, reputation, future-proof your workforce,” she says.
“Today’s top talent doesn’t necessarily want to quit,” concludes Joanne. “They just want breathing space. Businesses that accommodate this shift will be far more likely to see the ‘boomerang effect’ of staff walking back through their doors.”
