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Changes to Youth Employment Laws

Changes to Indiana's Youth Employment Laws (January 1, 2025)

Effective January 1, 2025, Indiana’s Youth Employment rules will change to closer mirror federal child labor laws, with a few notable differences.

Changes to the Youth Employment laws include:

  • 16- and 17-year-olds may now work the same hours and days as an adult. No parental permission is required for 16- and 17-year-olds to work longer or later hours.
  • 14- and 15-year-olds are still bound by the same hour and day restrictions but may now work until 9:00 PM on any day between June 1st and Labor Day. (Some exceptions may apply. Please see our website at www.in.gov/dol/youth-employment/youth-employment-home/ or refer to Indiana Code 22-2-18.1-16.)
  • The restrictions on minors working in prohibited or hazardous occupations continue to mirror federal law.
  • Any employer that employs five (5) or more minors (14-, 15-, 16, or 17-year-olds) must register the minor in the Youth Employment System (YES).
    • The minor’s date of hire is the first day on which the minor attends orientation or performs work for the employer.
    • Any new or changed information regarding a qualifying location, or the names and numbers of minors at each qualifying location, must now be entered on or before the fifteenth and last business day of each month.
  • Employers of 14- and 15-year-olds must update their youth employment posters to reflect the changes in law. This and other labor posters are available for free online at www.in.gov/dol/publications/ . These posters may also be offered by other, for-profit organizations. Please ensure whatever poster you choose contains complete and correct information.

If you have specific questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us by phone at (317) 232-2655 or by e-mail at YouthEmployment@dol.in.gov .