A career break is a planned period away from working life. Take a career break, come back from a career break.
The word planned is what separates it from unemployment, at least in the telling. A career break for caring is far commoner than one for travel and far less often described that way.
1nouncareer breakA planned period away from working life.
“She took a career break for three years and went back at the same level.”
career break is a period.
Practised in Work & Careers