Automation vs. Augmentation: Why Sector Nuance Will Shape the Next Nordic Workplace and Asset Strategy

The Nordic workplace is poised for a transformation driven by automation and human-machine collaboration, according to the Future of Jobs Report 2025. This shift demands a sector-specific approach to real estate, particularly for owner-occupiers in the Nordics. 

The Future of Jobs Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum signals a decisive shift in how work gets done. By 2030, the share of tasks performed solely by humans is expected to fall from 47% to 33%, with the remainder split almost evenly between automation (machines and algorithms) and human–machine collaboration (augmentation).

For the Nordics, the implications extend beyond leased office space. Many of the sectors most affected by this shift — from manufacturing to healthcare — occupy and own a large share of their real estate. That means the impact is not just about rent and footprint decisions, but also about how corporates, public sector organisations, and institutions optimise, repurpose, or divest from assets sitting on their balance sheets.

Not All Sectors Are Created Equal

The Future of Jobs Report 2025 shows that the balance between automation and augmentation varies sharply by industry. In the Nordic context, this matters because our economies span both ends of the spectrum:

Automation-led change

• Sectors like Financial Services, Electronics, and Advanced Manufacturing — all with significant Nordic footprints — will see most of their task reduction driven by automation. For owner–occupiers, this could mean fewer people in back offices, robotics-enabled production floors, and the need to consolidate surplus space.
• CRE decisions in these sectors will centre on whether to reinvest in remaining sites for higher productivity, dispose of underutilised assets, or repurpose them for alternative uses.
  

Augmentation-led change

• Medical and Healthcare Services, Government and Public Administration, and Energy Technology are set to rely heavily on augmentation — technology enhancing human capability rather than replacing it.
• Here, demand for real estate will remain strong, but facilities will require significant capex to integrate new technology while preserving human-centred functionality. In hospitals, civic offices, and control centres, the emphasis will be on creating spaces where tech-enabled human expertise can thrive.

Implications for Nordic Corporate Real Estate

• Portfolio optimisation for owner–occupiers: Manufacturing, healthcare, and public sector players will need data-led reviews of their estate to decide which assets to hold, modernise, or release.
• Capex planning and ESG alignment: Augmentation-heavy sectors must budget for upgrades that combine advanced tech with human-centric design, while meeting energy efficiency and sustainability targets.
• Sale & leaseback opportunities: Automation-heavy sectors disposing of surplus assets can unlock capital while retaining operational control, providing opportunities for investors to acquire high-quality facilities with long leases.
• Repurposing and mixed-use conversion: Surplus or obsolete owned sites, particularly in urban locations, may be repositioned for housing, education, or new industry clusters, aligning with city development goals.

Why This Matters Now

In the Nordics, many of the facilities affected by automation or augmentation are in the hands of their occupiers — from manufacturing plants in Jutland to hospitals in Helsinki and government buildings in Oslo. How these organisations choose to invest in, repurpose, or release those assets will shape both the real estate market and the region’s economic competitiveness over the next decade.

The Future of Jobs Report 2025 provides a clear signal: the human–machine balance is shifting. For Nordic occupiers and owner–operators, understanding whether your sector is on an automation or augmentation path is now a core part of asset strategy — as critical to long-term value as location or build quality.