Youth Employment – Workforce Alabama

Job Seekers / Youth Employment

Your first step into the workforce.

Part-time or summer jobs can provide teenagers with opportunities to learn life skills, acquire hands-on experience and earn spending money. We help you understand what hours and jobs teens can work.

Working in Alabama

A person must be at least 14 years old to work in Alabama. There are limited exceptions for certain family-owned businesses performing non-hazardous work under a parent’s direct supervision.

Requirements for Minors 14-15

Regularly attend school
Make satisfactory progress in school
Parent or guardian must inform school of child’s employer name, address and phone number
Eligibility to work may be revoked if requested by school officials

A 30-minute break is required for any 14- or 15-year-old person employed for more than five continuous hours. No breaks are required for employees 16 and up.

Restrictions

Work Time Restrictions

Ages 14-15

During months when public school is in session:

Can only work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Not during school hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Up to three hours on a school day
Up to eight hours on a non-school day
Up to 18 hours per week
No more than six days per week

During the summer months:

Can only work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Up to eight hours per day
Up to 40 hours per week
No more than six days per week

Ages 16-18

Minors ages 16-18 enrolled in public or private school may not work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on a night before a school day. Schools may grant individual exemptions.

Occupation Restrictions

Hazardous or Dangerous Occupations

Persons under 16 years of age are not allowed to work in, about or in connection with any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, cannery, mill, workshop, warehouse, machine shop or any place or occupation which the department declares dangerous to life or limb or is injurious to heath or morals.

For a complete list, review the Alabama Child Labor Pamphlet.

Alcohol

Employees must be 21 to serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises. (18 if the licensee is RVP certified.)
Workers 16 and older may work as busboys, dishwashers, cooks, hostesses, seaters and similar positions in restaurants that serve alcohol.
Workers 14 and 15 years old may not work in establishments where alcohol is served for consumption on premises, except in limited family-business situations where the worker does not serve, sell, dispense or handle alcohol.

Adult Establishments

No person under 18 years of age can be employed by or perform in any adult establishment.

Need more information?

Child Labor for Employers

Child Labor Documents

Included below are detailed documents and additional information related to child labor.

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