Working Under Eighteen
MCL 409.111 — 24 hours a school week at 16, and 10:30 p.m. most school nights
In Michigan, the Youth Employment Standards Act sets the hours by age band, and for a student the limits tighten while school is in session.
| Under 16 | The limit |
|---|---|
| Under 16Outside school hours only | The limitYes |
| Under 16A day in a school week | The limitNot more than 3 hours |
| Under 16A school week | The limitNot more than 18 hours |
| Under 16A week school is not in session | The limitNot more than 40 hours |
| Under 16June 1 through Labor Day | The limitBetween 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. |
| Under 16The rest of the year | The limitBetween 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. |
| 16 and older | The limit |
|---|---|
| 16 and olderDays in a week | The limitNot more than six |
| 16 and olderA day | The limitNot more than 10 hours, and an average of not more than 8 a day in the week |
| 16 and olderA week | The limitNot more than 48 hours, or 24 hours if a student while school is in session |
| 16 and olderNight | The limitNot between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.; a student may work until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and school vacations |
Five hours, then a break. A minor may not be employed for more than 5 hours continuously without an interval of at least 30 minutes for a meal and rest period, and a shorter interval does not break up the continuous period.
Seed and produce work. A minor 16 or older may work longer in seed production or agricultural processing when school is not in session, up to 11 hours a day and 62 hours a week, not between 2 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., with a parent's written consent on file.
Work permits, prohibited occupations and the federal definitions the act borrows are not all on this page. How these rules apply to a particular job, and the federal rules that may also apply, are questions for the state's labor department or a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- MCL 409.110 — Minor under 16 years; days and hours of employment
- MCL 409.111 — Minor 16 years or older; days and hours of employment
- MCL 409.112 — Meal and rest period
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.