Gender Equality in Basque Industry: Report on Good Practices and Examples
This report offers an analysis of the good practices implemented by Basque companies that performed best in terms of gender equality and competitiveness, based on the SPRI study “The Impact of Women on Industrial Competitiveness”, presented in 2023. That report demonstrated that companies with a higher degree of gender equality are more competitive, with stronger results in terms of increased turnover and employment, R&D&I activity, and internationalisation.
Gender Equality and Competitiveness in Basque Industry
Bringing industry closer to young women during their education is essential
Building on these findings, which have great potential as a motivational and incentive-based tool for the application of gender equality policies in industry, a number of companies of varying sizes and characteristics, across different industrial specialisation sectors, were interviewed. The aim was to identify the good practices that enabled them to achieve stronger results in their commitment to gender equality.
As a result of these interviews, and as a complement to the work undertaken by SPRI in this area Women in Industry in recent years, good practices have been identified in three key areas deemed strategic for ensuring women’s participation in industry: access, career progression, and leadership.
Good Practices to Promote Gender Equality in Industry
The good practices identified in the report are grouped into five specific areas (“game-changing measures”) in which companies can take steps to become more gender-equal:
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO THE INDUSTRY
- Encouraging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers among girls.
- 2. Increasing women’s employability in industrial sectors.
WOMEN’S CAREER PROGRESSION IN THE INDUSTRY
- Promoting an equitable working environment through work-life balance measures and inclusive policies.
- Implementing gender equality plans to ensure opportunities for professional development.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN THE INDUSTRY
- Ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes and on company boards within the industrial sector.
Key Factors for Implementing Measures in Companies
This report presents the key findings from this process, highlighting that the strong gender equality outcomes achieved by these companies are not coincidental. Rather, they are the result of strategic commitment and the deliberate implementation of measures to enhance women’s access, progression, and leadership within the organisation.
SPRI believes that sharing these results may support their adoption by other companies, and thereby continue moving forward together towards greater female representation in Basque industry—boosting both its competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
