This study delves into the increasing relevance of remote work in fostering resilient municipalities and regions in rural and remote areas of the Nordic countries. By conducting policy reviews and interviews with planners and practitioners, the study examines ongoing efforts to harness remote work as a catalyst for rural development.
Emerging from the research is that hybrid work, mainly where employees split their time between home and office, is becoming the new norm in the Nordic regions. The hybrid work format’s acceptance and implementation may vary and is in fact largely influenced by individual employers and employees perceptions. Notably, most public authorities do not have a formal remote work policy, relying instead on frameworks that were already in place before or developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These arrangements often reflect the needs and wishes of individual employers and employees, emphasising a commitment to work-life balance and employee satisfaction.
Municipalities are however acknowledging remote work’s potential in retaining and attracting people, particularly those with deep roots in the community, and in recruiting skilled workers needed for economic vitality. Politically, there is a drive across the Nordic region to amplify these opportunities and utilise for regional and rural development.
In some ways, regional and rural areas maintain more traditional, and a larger share of employment is still considered on-site jobs. However, various initiatives, including the creation of co-working spaces, spearheaded by private enterprises and public authorities alike, are bringing remote work to the forefront of rural development. Critical to this movement is the improvement of digital infrastructure without which the progress of remote work would be significantly hindered.
The study shows that this modern working trend of remote and hybrid working formats seems to be more than a mere solution to the crisis during the pandemic; it's a shift towards long-term regional development, with municipalities in rural areas engaging in providing the infrastructure and an environment conducive to such a transformation. Interestingly, it was found that there are few official remote work policies in place. Rather remote work has further been integrated into existing policies and procedures. Therefore, municipalities and regions are mainly focusing on their overall attractiveness in their pursuit of attracting remote workers, e.g., quality of life, affordable housing, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, social inclusivity, cultural and recreational amenities, public safety as well as physical and natural environment. There are however also some challenges to be faced such as legislative bottlenecks, ensuring adequate public services, and negotiating issues around taxation related to remote working.
In essence, the research concludes that remote work can act as a strategy for sustainable regional development, potentially enriching communities with new skill sets, innovating business environments, and improving public services. This is something that is shared across the case study areas in the research. For municipalities in the Nordic regions, there is a general agreement that this new development entails a significant opportunity to use remote work to combat out-migration and enhance the overall quality of life. To leverage the full potential of this trend, there is a need for investment in digital infrastructure, the creation of more supportive work environments, and fostering regional attractiveness for both locals and potential newcomers. When integrated into broader strategies, remote work promises a more vibrant and sustainable future for these regions.