Bilbao is one of the 155 cities analyzed in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2020, an annual report prepared by the business school INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires) together with the Adecco Group and Google, which measures the ability to countries and cities to compete for talent. Bilbao is specifically classified in 83rd place in the ranking of the global cities carried out in the study.

The analysis is based on five pillars (enabling, attracting, developing and retaining talent, and creating global knowledge), and Bilbao stands out very positively in its ability to retain talent, ranking third in this aspect. Instead, the positioning is more discreet in attracting talent and creating global knowledge. Investigating this last aspect, Bilbao is well positioned in terms of population with higher education (20th in the ranking), but it limps in patent applications and air connectivity.