The study highlights that, despite some progress, the evolution of women's presence in leadership roles within Euskadi companies remains slow. A provincial deputy from the Department of Economic Promotion of Bizkaia stated, “there is progress, but the pace remains insufficient. We are not facing a consolidated structural change.”

The research, conducted by the director of Gaia Research and Consulting, provides a snapshot of the current situation and proposes measures to accelerate change. The report indicates a slight decrease in 2025 in the percentage of Basque companies with 50 or more employees that have a quota of 40% or more women on their boards of directors.

However, 2024 marked a clear turning point towards a more accelerated evolution in meeting recommended parity objectives. This was particularly evident in smaller companies and sectors traditionally with lower female representation, such as industry and construction. This context is framed by a regulatory and legislative framework that promotes gender equality in decision-making bodies, such as the approval of Organic Law 2/2024, of August 1, on equal representation and balanced presence of women and men.

In 2025, women accounted for 25% of all positions on the boards of directors of Basque companies, maintaining representation compared to 2024, but also the gap in access to top-level positions. Last year, 16% of board presidencies were held by women, and in the executive area, the CEO/general management position stood at 12%, unchanged from 2024.

Over the past five years, progress has been observed in gender balance, with the percentage of companies reaching the 40% or more female representation threshold on their boards increasing from 11% in 2021 to 27% in 2025. Nevertheless, the past year has shown a certain stagnation, suggesting the need for new strategies to achieve true equality.