This game has workbenches, where player crafts stuff. Wood workbench, Iron workbench, campfire and others.workstations are the crafted spots for chopping, mining, etc, right?
And workstations, where NPCs work to produce stuff out of nothing. Mine, pig farm and others.
NPCs aren't that good at working, so the only value of workstations is in automation and a few resources you can't get elsewhere. For example, a single expedition into an iron mine will produce more iron than an NPC will produce ever.
Crop fields are in-between: can be worked by both player and NPCs. This is a rare case where NPCs are better at it.