Child labor was prevalent in the US during industrialization until minimum age restrictions were established in 1938. Most jobs require a minimum age of 16, but some states allow children to work at age 14. There are exceptions and restrictions for certain industries and tasks, and children must stay in school. Work permits are required for those under 18, and certain types of work have higher age restrictions.
One of the evils of US industrialization was the use of child labor, which in the 19th and 20th centuries allowed children of virtually any age to work some of the most dangerous and difficult jobs, especially in factories. In the 1930s, the US sought to remedy this and also require children to attend school. As a result, in 1938 minimum age restrictions for getting a job were established.
The standard for most jobs, although this varies from state to state, is that you must be 16 years old. Many states allow children to work at age 14, but it depends on the industry. In some states, such as Illinois, minimum age restrictions for a job in agriculture are 12 during the school year and 10 during summer vacation. There are loopholes and exceptions to these restrictions, and there are some fields of work or tasks not permitted for anyone under 18 or, in some cases, 21. For example, in the entertainment industry, children of virtually any age can work as long as their parents allow it. There are laws governing how much work children of different ages can do in a day, and they also dictate that a child must stay in school.
Typically, if you work for your parents, you can bypass the minimum age restrictions. Even in a family business, you can work without being 14 years old. There is also no minimum age to get an informal job. You can babysit, run errands, walk the dogs, or do yard work for the neighbors. These are casual jobs rather than considered regular jobs, and you don’t need a work permit to do this type of casual work.
If you’re under 18 but you’re past the minimum age restrictions for getting a job in your state, you usually need to apply for a work permit. These are often on file at your school, or you can certainly ask a school counselor to tell you how to apply. You will need to obtain a parent or guardian’s signature granting you permission to work, and you must have a Social Security number. Ask your parents if you already have one, as most US tax forms now require a child’s Social Security number to claim them as a dependent.
Certain types of work have much higher minimum age restrictions. For example, if you work in the food industry, you cannot legally serve alcohol until age 18 in many states. Also, at 18, you can only serve alcoholic beverages on a tray. In most cases, you cannot mix drinks, pour wine, or even carry a drink to a customer in your hand, until you are 21. These rules may vary in states where the drinking age is under 21.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
