Youth Employment Rules

LEARN MORE. NCDOL – Wage and Hour Bureau will host a one-hour presentation on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 1pm to discuss federal and state youth employment laws, obtaining youth employment certificates and the Supervised Practice Youth Work Based Experience Agreement. Additional dates and times will be available. 
The Supervised Practice Work-Based Experience Agreement allows youth, parents, a high school principal (public schools only) and an employer, to enter into an agreement which allows youths to work in occupations deem detrimental by the NC Department of Labor. These occupations include, but are not limited to, welding, electrician helper and working in occupations where there is a risk of falling more than 10 feet.

if interested, you may register here: Youth Employment Presentation Registration

The youth employment provisions of the Wage and Hour Act are designed to protect minors by restricting the types of jobs and the number of hours they may work. North Carolina law adopts the federal employment standards for youths  between the ages of  14- and 17-years old, employed in non-farm jobs, as well as the exceptions to those limitations; however, the Wage and Hour Act establishes some additional, more stringent requirements that must be followed by all non-farm employers. Farm work is completely exempt from any of the provisions of the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act. Employment in hazardous or detrimental occupations are not permitted for youths under the age of 18.

Complaints regarding youth employment may be made anonymously.  However, due to the information that is required to be obtained prior to investigating a complaint,  all complaints (including anonymous complaints) must be made by calling 1-800-NCLABOR  (1-800-625-2267).