Youth Workers Permits & Rules

Youth Employment

Youth Employment Rules and Required Documentation

Youth employment rules under the Wage and Hour Act help protect minors by limiting the types of jobs they may perform and the hours they can work. North Carolina follows federal standards for youths ages 14 through 17 in non-farm jobs and adds a few stricter requirements that all non-farm employers must follow. Farm work is exempt from these rules. No youth under 18 may work in hazardous or detrimental occupations.

To apply for a Youth Employment Certificate, youths must provide acceptable proof of age. This may include a birth certificate, driver’s license or learner’s permit, school or insurance records, or other documents approved by Social Services or the N.C. Department of Labor (NCDOL).

Youth employment complaints may be made anonymously. To file a complaint, call 1-800-NCLABOR (1-800-625-2267).

  1. Hours & Restrictions
  2. Prohibited Hazardous and Detrimental Occupations

Limits for Working Youths

These limits help protect the youth's well-being and ensure work does not interfere with school.

Youths Under 14 Years Old

Youths under age 14 are not permitted to work except when employed by a parent, delivering newspapers, or participating in approved modeling, acting, or similar productions.

14- and 15-Year-Old Youths

Youths ages 14 and 15 may work in retail, food service, service stations, and office settings. They may not work in manufacturing or mining, on construction sites, with power-driven machinery such as lawn mowers, in hazardous sites or detrimental occupations.

Businesses with ABC permits for on-premises alcohol consumption is restricted. Youths under 16 cannot work in any job at these establishments unless they are the child of the sole owner.

Work is limited to:

  • No more than 3 hours per day when school is in session and no more than 8 hours per day when school is not in session.
  • No more than 18 hours per week during a school week or more than 40 hours per week during non-school weeks.
  • Only outside of school hours.
  • A required 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours of work.

16- and 17-Year-Old Youths

  • During the school year, youths in grade 12 or lower cannot work between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. before a school day.
  • This restriction does not apply if the employer has written permission from both the youth’s parent or guardian and the school principal or their designee.
  • The rule does not apply to youths who have left traditional school and are enrolled in a GED program, community college, or technical program.
  • Youths ages 16 and 17 may work at businesses with ABC permits but may not prepare, serve, dispense, or sell alcoholic beverages.