D&I – Spain ranks as the second country in the EU with the highest number of women managers

A recent study by  Gran Thornton (Women in Business 2023) reinforces  and confirms some of the conclusions of the webinar organized by Saltor Talent in July 2022:  Is Spain ahead or behind other european countries on Diversity & Inclusion?   See webinar diversity and inclusion

And, as we concluded in the aforementioned webinar, and although there is still a long way to go, Spain is taking important steps in terms of diversity, and stands out in a special way compared to its European partners. 

In fact, Spain ranks as the second country in the EU  with the highest number of women managers (38% compared to an average of 32% in the EU), and reaches an outstanding 12th place in the ranking worldwide.

This is 2 points more than the previous year, approaching the 40% target set by the United Nations for 2025.

And if we focus on specific departments, the Human Resources management and the Financial Management are again the most represented by women. The Human Resources department is close to parity, with 42% of positions held by women. In turn, the financial management stands at 40% female representation. 

However, there are other departments with an endemic shortage of female representation, such as Operations, IT, Commercial or the General Management itself, in which it is necessary to act with greater urgency to reverse the situation.

According to the report, there are several factors that partly explain the positive developments: firstly, the new labour models that have accelerated post-Covid (greater flexibility and conciliation favour equal opportunities). Secondly, the introduction of mandatory quotas in listed companies (and the imitation effect of other companies that want to reproduce best practices). 

And what conclusions do we draw from the above? 

Undoubtedly, these are data that invite optimism. Spain must continue on the same path, and even set more ambitious objectives to cut the deadlines to achieve parity. In fact, it is an opportunity for the country to lead and become a European and world benchmark in terms of diversity. 

At the same time, it is important not to fall into complacency or conformism. 38% of women are managerial positions is a figure that represents a clear improvement, but it is still not enough. It is necessary to continue working, every day, until we achieve the final goal: parity. 

Álvaro Cárcel, Partner.