Youth Employment

The Missouri Division of Labor Standards' Wage and Hour Section provides Missouri employers, parents, school officials and youth information and training about workplace safety and health program management, child labor laws and youth and employer rights and responsibilities.

Missouri child labor laws differ from federal laws with regard to how many hours 14 and 15 year olds may work. Federal child labor law is more stringent regarding the total number of hours youth can work. Contact the USDOL Wage and Hour Section for specific information.

Young people under the age of 14 are allowed to work only in limited areas such as the entertainment industry (an entertainment permit issued by the Division of Labor Standards is required). Young people 14 to 15 years of age are permitted to work in a number of different types of businesses, with the majority working in some form of retail or food services. A work certificate is required during the school year. The employment of young people over the age of 16 does not fall under Missouri law, but some restrictions do exist under federal law.

Prohibited occupations generally involve dangerous equipment (cookers, slicers), dangerous materials (such as toxic chemicals), or dangerous duties (driving, roofing). In addition there are specific restrictions regarding employment in hotels and in businesses that sell alcoholic beverages. The U.S. Department of Labor also has restrictions listed in their Hazardous Orders Rule.