It's strange that they're rejecting you over the absence of work. Are you in Canada now MZ?

One interview tip - and sorry if you've heard this before, but I'd highly recommend STAR method. It will really help improve your interview skills.

yeah some told me that they are rejecting me because of that.

You're sure employers see it as a red flag? Have they told you this? I've found most employers are pretty understanding of gaps if you explain your situation.

I'm kinda mentally broken. Had a hand injury just after my PhD that prevented me from working for one year. Now employers see that gap as a red flag. It is a self-perpetuating barier that gets bigger every day.

oh nice! working as internal IT for a medium sized company currently. Don't let it get you down! I've been applying my ass off too to try and get the next bump up in salary. I haven't hard much back either

consultancy/ quant finance/ data scientist etc.