Where to start if you're under 16 and looking for a job.
There are strict laws around employing people under the age of 16 which can make it confusing when it comes to finding work. If you are under 16 and looking for a job here are some things you should know.
Contents:
Who hires under 16 and what jobs can I do?
Age restrictions
If you're under the age of 13 you are generally not allowed to work. If you're aged between 13-14 you can do certain types of work but there are restrictions on the number of hours you can work and the type of work you can do. If you're aged between 15-16 you can also work but there are still restrictions on the hours you are able to work.
Working hours
During term time
If you're between the ages of 13-14 you can work a max of 12 hours a week. This includes a maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays. With a max of 5 hours on Saturdays.
If you're aged between 15-16 you can work the same as 13-14 a max of 12 hours a week. This includes a maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays. With a slightly higher max of 8 hours on Saturdays.
During school holidays
If you're between the ages of 13-14 you can work a max of 25 hours a week. This includes:
Max 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
Max 2 hours on Sunday
If you're aged between 15-16 you can work a max of 35 hours a week. This includes:
Max 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
Max 2 hours on Sunday
The types of work you can do
If you're under 16 you are not allowed to do certain types of work, such as working with hazardous chemicals or machinery or in a bar or nightclub.
Pay
There isn't a current minimum wage for anyone aged under 16 years old.
For those over 16 it is currently £4.81 per hour. This will increase to £5.28 from April 1st 2023.
The minimum wage only currently applies if you're aged over 16.
However, there are a few employers who hire under 16-year-olds and pay the minimum.
Who hires under 16 and what jobs can I do?
Employers such as Boots and WHSmith both hire under 16-year-olds on a case-by-case basis but you'll have to be older than 13 to apply.
There are also some other job options including:
Babysitting
Dog walking or pet sitting
Newspaper delivery
Cafe or restaurant work
Small local businesses are more likely to offer jobs to those under 16 such as cafes or restaurants that need staff on a part-time or weekend basis.
We use the responses from our community of over 470,000 workers who've told us about their jobs when they've taken the Breakroom Quiz.
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*Data used in this blog post is from 21st Feb 2023
Published on 22 February 2023