Redefining warehouse workforce competencies and roles through human-robot collaboration

In the logistics industry, the emergence of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and collaborative robots (cobots) is changing the way people work in warehouses. The public debate about this transition often focuses on job loss, but a growing body of empirical and theoretical research shows that the transition is a more complex one, in which human workers are still essential, but their jobs are being structurally transformed. This article uses a secondary data methodology to review the peer-reviewed research and industry evidence published from 2022 to 2026 to explore how human-robot collaboration (HRC) is changing the skills and roles of workers in warehouses. The results show that successful warehouse HRC requires a portfolio of multi-dimensional competencies, including technical skills in robotic systems, cognitive and supervisory skills, communication and teamwork, and adaptive learning. Traditional jobs based on manual work are transforming into collaborative management and exception handling, demanding new cognitive and ethical skills from employees. At the same time, algorithmic management generates new challenges such as surveillance anxiety, loss of autonomy and risks of deskilling that affect workers' well-being and contribute to turnover. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for structured reskilling programs, human-centric system design, deliberate role enrichment, and participatory governance of AI-driven logistics environments. The results add to the growing conversation about Industry 5.0 and offer a blueprint for organizations, educators, and policymakers to help ensure that training programs meet the needs of today's warehouse automation.