September 2016: Back to school -- child labor laws in Minnesota
Young people are back in school in Minnesota, so it is a great time to share some important tips about the state's child labor laws that apply to employers employing young workers during the school year.
Can kids work during the school year?
Kids age 14 and older may work in Minnesota, but there are limitations to the hours and types of work they can perform.
Important employer tip
Even if a parent gives the child permission to work more or different hours, the employer is still required to follow state
child labor laws.
Ages 14 and 15
Cannot work before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Cannot work more than 40 hours a week
Cannot work during school hours on a school day
For employers with annual sales of $500,000 or more, federal law says youth:
cannot work later than 7 p.m.;
cannot work more than three hours a day; and
cannot work more than 18 hours a week.
Ages 16 and 17
Cannot work after 11 p.m. on evenings before school or before 5 a.m. on school days
With written permission from a parent, may work as late as 11:30 p.m. and as early as 4:30 a.m.
Keeping young people and our workplaces safe is important to everyone. That is why Minnesota prohibits youth from working in certain areas of employment and from using certain power-driven machinery. Below are some important work restrictions to keep in mind.
Ages 17 and under
Prohibited employment includes:
working in construction;
working in or around sawmills;
firefighting;
operating amusement park rides; and
operating power-driven machinery, such as forklifts, saws or meat grinders.
Ages 15 and under
Prohibited employment for youth under the age of 16 includes:
loading or launching of skeet and trap shooting;
welding;
working in manufacturing or commercial warehouses; and
assisting in the operation of or operating any power-driven machinery -- portable or stationary, whether it is in motion or at rest.
For a complete list of prohibited occupations for minors and information about exceptions, visit our web page about
prohibited work for youth.
Do I need a permit from the state to hire someone younger than 18?
An employer does not need a permit from the state to hire someone younger than 18. However, employers can apply for a permit from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry if they need to employ a minor outside of Minnesota's hourly restrictions or to work in prohibited employment.
For more information about the permitting process, visit our child labor exemptions web page.
Labor Standards serves the citizens of Minnesota by providing information
about a variety of wage, hour and employment law issues.