Youth Employment
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 44% of teenagers, 16-17 years old, work at some time during the year. This page provides links to Wisconsin and national information on youth employment. These links provide valuable information to youth, parents and employers on child labor laws, safety, and career development.
Wisconsin Resources
Wisconsin Child Labor Laws Find information on Wisconsin work permits, hours of work, minimum wage requirements, prohibited occupations. and other related topics.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development publications on resumes and employment.
- Wisconsin Employment Guide for Minors
- Tips on finding Summer Jobs
- Grooming For Employment
- Resume Writing, a Basic Guide
- Keys to Successful Interviewing
Wisconsin Regional Career Centers There are 10 regional Career Centers with a focus on helping youth with career decisions.
Wisconsin School-to-Work is a system of education-related opportunities that center on actively preparing all students to enter the global workforce of the future. These opportunities provide students with strong academic, technical, and life skills deemed by both business and educational leaders to be necessary skills for the future.
Youth Apprenticeship provides valuable experience to high school students who want to experience hands on learning at the worksite in conjunction with classroom instruction. This rigorous two year elective program combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning that makes a real world connection for the students.
National Resources
Youth2Work This site provides valuable information to employers, working teens, parents and educators. It summarizes labor laws, worker safety, and career options using four connected web sites, Youth Rules, Youth Safety, Youth Industry and Youth Careers.
YouthRules! For teens, parents, educators, and employers. U.S. Department of Labor's new initiative seeks to promote positive and safe work experiences for young workers. (en Español)
SPECIAL NOTE TO EMPLOYERS: You can get information on, posters, fact sheets, and employment compliance guides from YouthRules.
- Posters and Safety Stickers for your workplace and equipment that relate to federal youth employment at this site.
- Child Labor Fact Sheets on labor laws.
- Tips For Complying with Child Labor Laws
- Employer Guides on Youth Employment
Youth Safety Provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this site provides guidance to keep youth healthy and safe while on the job. Two guides are:
Youth and Labor links to the U.S. Department of Labor web site on federal laws, hours of work, labor statistics on child labor, and many other topics related to employment of minors.
Young Workers and Safety and Health is a NIOSH, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health web site.
Career Voyages Find information on occupations and help with career choices.
- Chart Your Course: choose an industry and see how your career grows by how much you learn.
- What's Hot: view the hottest occupations with the fastest growth rate and the most job openings.
- By State: View the fastest-growing occupations by state, in order of job openings.