Employment 5.0: The work of the future and the future of work

This systematic review brings together the collection of recent scholarly outputs on the disruptive impact of digital transformation on the work. This paper draws from a sample of 68 outputs from 2011 to 2022. We identify three key theoretical perspectives: socio-technical systems theory, skill-biased technological change, and political economy of digital transformation. The articles provide complementary insights on cross-cutting themes of technological unemployment, wage inequality and job polarization. They also highlight often conflicting views about technology ownership, work-less utopia, education reforms and the imperative of human-centricity in appropriation of technology. Drawing on the findings across the whole spectrum of theoretical and analytical perspectives, we offer critical reflections about the factors that will define the work of the future, in terms of skills, creativity and opportunities for autonomous workers. We also discuss the political and institutional processes that will shape the future of work. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research and policy interventions. •Employment 5.0 explored from socio-technical, skill-bias and political economy perspectives.•Digital transformation has precipitated technological unemployment and job polarization.•Employment 5.0 requires a revamped education system and investment in re-skilling and up-skilling.•The work of the future will be shaped by autonomous workers harnessing creativity and co-opting automation.