There's many reasons why some may take a "gap" in employment, such as physical and mental health, caring for a sick family member, pursuing further education or professional training, etc. But in a lot of cases, it's simply due to being laid off from your previous employer and struggling to find work afterwards.
Unfortunately, whatever the reason may be, many employers don't like seeing gaps on your CV and this is something that can hinder you from getting shortlisted. However, there are ways to cover up those gaps, which can help to improve your chance with an employer.
1) Only show the years of employment
A short unemployment gap (usually less than a year), can be easily disguised if you only include the year of employment, rather than the months. This will also make it easier for the employer to understand how long you were employed at your last job. Also, not too many numbers involved either!
2) Including voluntary/freelance work
You may not have had full time employment for some time, but adding voluntary or freelance work should definitely be included in your CV, as it shows the employer that you've kept yourself occupied during this period.
This kind of work also gives you some valuable work experience, as it doesn't have to be paid in order for it to count. You were still able to learn new skills, boost your experience and bring good results.
3) Style your CV differently
A typical CV tends to list work experience in chronological order by year. However, a more functional way to style a CV would be to focus on your skills, rather than the time spent at a job.
Instead, you can focus more on your skills and abilities, so long as you add an example from previous work experience. For example, anyone can claim to have good leadership skills, but what helps more is to add an example of where you put that skill into practice from your past work experience. This will help show to the employer that you have the right skills and experience for the job you're applying for.
Employment gaps happen to many for a lot of reasons, but it's not something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. However, the reason we disguise them is for the employer to focus on your abilities and achievements, rather than how long we've spent time doing things.