The skillsets of production workers are crucial for the effective adoption of smart technologies which are largely shaped by work design. However, current literature
lacks comprehensive insights into the skills and work designs of production workers, hindering the adoption of Industry 5.0. Grounded in work design and skills literature this study explores the required skills of employees and perceived work design characteristics for adoption of AI, AR/VR, and Robotics in Dutch Manufacturing SMEs. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with experts, managers and production workers. Results reveal a need to reassess traditional job profiles, as two distinct production workers roles emerge from AI, AR/VR and robotics adoption. Machine operators face potential deskilling through low feedback from the job, low task variety and low job complexity. Foremanproduction workers require additional skills due to job enlargement and enrichment. However, they seem to be put in this job role due to the lack of various professional and transversal skills to fully utilize smart technologies, and to accommodate a viable return on the technology investment. This highlights the importance of balancing job resources and requirements in work design, training programs for I5.0 skill development, and understanding contextual design elements of manufacturing systems contributing to viable I5.0 adoption in SMEs. Finally, sustainability, self-awareness, and self-reflection skills are not considered by professionals, displaying unawareness of its importance for I5.0 implementation practices.