Hours of work – 16‑ and 17‑year‑old high school students For high school students who are 16 or 17: • They may not work after 11 p.m. on evenings before school days (extendable to 11:30 p.m. with written parental/guardian permission). • They may not work before 5 a.m. on school days (extendable to 4:30 a.m. with written permission). No other state hour limit is set for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds, but federal hazardous‑occupation rules continue to apply, and federal child labor law may apply in covered industries. High school graduates who are 17 have no state work‑hour restrictions. A high school student age 18 or older may request in writing to work during previously restricted hours; employers should weigh safety and scheduling considerations. Prohibited and hazardous occupations under Minnesota law Minnesota prohibits employing minors in occupations the Commissioner of Labor and Industry has found to be particularly hazardous or detrimental to their well‑being. The prohibited list is extensive and includes, by category: • Jobs involving exposure to hazardous substances. • Work with many types of power‑driven machinery and equipment. • Operation of amusement rides. • Certain jobs in processing plants. • Jobs in establishments where intoxicating liquors are served (with limited exceptions). Employers should consult DLI’s child labor rules and contact the Labor Standards unit if uncertain whether a specific job is prohibited. Minnesota hazardous‑work exceptions Exceptions to hazardous‑work prohibitions include: • A minor working at tasks away from or outside the area of hazardous operations, equipment, or materials. • Home chores, babysitting, and work for a parent (as long as the work is not part of the parent’s business, trade, or profession). Home chores include typical household tasks like mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow, light housekeeping, washing dishes or clothes, yard cleanup, and food preparation. • Minors in state‑approved apprenticeship programs or programs approved by the Minnesota Department of Education’s vocational‑technical division. • Seventeen‑year‑old high school graduates.
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