The Operator Side of Industry 5.0: A Scoping Review of Learning and Skill Development Conditions in the Era of Digital and Green Transitions

The fifth industrial revolution, Industry 5.0, is initiating a paradigm shift in manufacturing and challenging the techno-centric orientation of production seen in Industry 4.0. Industry 5.0 places operators at the centre of the production together with technological development and sustainability, marking a shift that positions them as key drivers of the industry’s digital and green transitions. This study addresses this under-researched topic by examining existing literature on Industry 5.0 with a focus on workplace conditions that support operators’ learning and skills development for digital and green transitions of Industry 5.0. Using a scoping review technique, the search was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2020 and 2025. After applying the inclusion criteria, 43 papers were analysed using descriptive and thematic methods. The thematic analysis identified five conditions facilitating operator learning: redesign work for operator-robot collaboration; immersive technologies as training tools; supportive leadership and management; encourage operators to try new technologies and roles; and collaboration in partnerships to support skill development. By analysing these conditions through a workplace learning perspective, this review concludes that Industry 5.0 is not merely a technological or environmental revolution but a learning-centred paradigm shift. Realising its operator-centric vision requires embedding learning into everyday work. It calls for changes in workplaces such as redesigning work for operator–robot collaboration, adopting innovative training strategies in immersive learning environments, and developing leadership support for transitions to digital and green production.