Indiana Child Labor Laws - The Complete Guide for 2025

Under Indiana Child Labor Laws, employers in the state must stay compliant when hiring employees under the age of 18. More specifically, youth employees in Indiana have certain requirements and restrictions when it comes to hours worked, duties performed, and a few other provisions. Here is everything employers need to know regarding Indiana Child Labor Laws.

Indiana Child Labor Laws Overview

Indiana Child Labor Laws are enforced and maintained by the Indiana Youth Employment Division, a division of the Indiana Department of Labor (DOL). 

Generally, employers in the state of Indiana need to be aware of the following things when hiring employees under the age of 18:

• How to track and monitor minor-employee information
• Prohibited Occupations / Duties
• Restrictions on Hours Worked
• Required Posters and Forms

Of course, these are just important areas to be aware of specific to child labor and employing minors. It's important to keep in mind that employers still must comply with all the other Indiana Labor Laws required by the state. 

Indiana Youth Employment System (YES)

While many states throughout the United States utilize youth work permits when it comes to minor employment, Indiana has made the change to go completely electronic. 

Since July 1st, 2021, employers in Indiana with five or more minor employees must use the Indiana Youth Employment System (YES) to track and report minor employee information.

Employers in Indiana must use the system to provide corporate and individual location information, and minor employee information once the minor is employed. Once the minor is no longer employed, he or she may be removed from the system. Employers found to be out of compliance may receive fines of up to $400 per employee.

Important to note is that employers with fewer than five minor employees do not need to use the system, but may still choose to sign up. 

Employers can sign up for YES by clicking this link.

Prohibited Occupations and Duties for Minors in Indiana

When it comes to minor employment in Indiana, there are certain restrictions on the duties that a minor can be asked to undertake. These duties also differ depending on the age of the minor, with the restrictions being more intense for minors aged 14 to 15. 

Prohibited Occupations for Minors 14 and 15 Years Old

• Manufacturing and working in workrooms where goods are manufactured
• Mining and working in workrooms where goods are mined
• Processing and working in workrooms where goods are processed
• Operating, tending, setting up, adjusting, cleaning, oiling, or repairing power-driven machinery
• Cooking and Baking
• Working in freezers or meat coolers
• Preparation of meats for sale
• Working in or about boiler or engine rooms
• Maintenance of a building, establishment-machines, or equipment
• Operating a motor vehicle
• Working as a vehicle helper
• Loading a motor vehicle
• Catching or cooping poultry for transport to sale or to market
• Transportation of people or goods
• Warehousing and storage
• Communications
• Public messenger
• Youth peddling
• Advertising by holding signs, waving banners or wearing costumes
• Construction, demolition, or repair
• Using ladders, scaffolds or other similar equipment
• Outside window washing

For more information regarding the above-prohibited duties and the details behind each one, employers can see the YES website.

Prohibited Occupations for Minors 16 and 17 Years Old

Minor employees between the ages of 16 and 17 may not perform the following occupations with these duties and /or scenarios:

• In or about plants / establishments that manufacture or store explosives or articles containing explosive components
• Driving a motor vehicle or being an outside helper
• Coal mining and other mining-related jobs
• Forest fire fighting and forest fire prevention, logging, timber tract, and forestry services
• Exposure to radioactive substances and ionizing radiation
• Slaughtering, meat and poultry packing, processing, or rendering
• Brick, tile, or kindred product manufacturing
• Wrecking, demolitions, and shipbreaking operations
• Roofing operations both on or about a roof
• Excavating operations

In addition, minor employees between the ages of 16 and 17 are also prohibited from performing jobs that utilize the operations of:

• Saw, lathe, shingle, or cooperage stock mills
• Any of the following power-driven machines:
  • Woodworking machines
  • Hoisting apparatuses
  • Metal forming, punching, and shearing machines
  • Meat-processing machines
• Bakery Machines
• Balers, compactors, or paper product machines
• Circular saws, band saws, guillotine shears, chain saws, reciprocating saws, wood chippers, and abrasive cutting discs

For more information regarding the above-prohibited duties and the details behind each one, employers can see the YES website.

Hour Restrictions for Indiana Minors

In addition to the restrictions on duties and occupations performed, minors in Indiana also have restrictions on the hours that are allowed for work. Like the duty restrictions, the restrictions on hours worked differ depending on the age of the minor.

Restrictions on Hours Worked for Minors 14 and 15 Years Old

Minors ages 14 and 15 may only work up to three hours on a school day, and up to eight hours on a non-school day. In addition to the daily limits, minors may only work up to 18 hours per school week, and up to 40 hours during a non-school week. 

In addition to the total hours worked, there are certain windows in which minors aged 14 to 15 may work. Minors 14 and 15 may only work from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm, and must work outside of school hours. From June 1st through Labor Day, minors are allowed to work until 9:00 pm.

Restrictions on Hours Worked for Minors 16 and 17 Years Old

Effective January 1st, 2025, minors ages 16 and 17 may work the same hours as adult employees. Parental permission or an accompanying adult employee that is 18 or older is not needed if minors ages 16 or 17 work either extended hours or later hours.

Required Posters and Forms 

The Indiana Youth Employment Center provides a wide array of materials and resources regarding youth employment in Indiana, but there are only a few things that are required for employers to post. 

Employers in Indiana must display the following poster and have these forms and documents handy:

• Teen Work Hour Restrictions Poster
  
  • Effective January 1st, 2025, and thereafter, all businesses employing minors 14 - 15 years of age are required to have this poster
• Sample Withdrawal Form
  
  • When a minor legally withdraws from a high school education, the information on this form should be present on his or her exit letter.
• Roster of Minors
  
  • This poster reflects permissions that are on file for employed minors
    (Not Required, but recommended)

Managing Youth Employment in Indiana

While the risk for non-compliance is greater when hiring youth employees, the necessity to do so likely outweighs the risk. Therefore, it is critical that employers looking to hire minors in Indiana understand and adhere to the requirements and restrictions regarding youth employment in the state.

Companies that are struggling with Indiana compliance regarding things like youth employment or other areas of Indiana Labor Law may want to consider reaching out to an Indiana Payroll and HR company for help.

Businesses looking for assistance can contact us or get connected with a provider today!

Guest Author: Scott Holland

Scott Holland is the Executive Vice President at TruPay, an Indiana human capital management solutions company serving medium and large employee-size organizations throughout the United States. Scott earned a B.S. from Bethel College, majoring in accounting and business administration. He is a member of the AICPA and Indiana CPA Society and has been invited to speak at the Independent Payroll Provider’s Association (IPPA) tax and operations conference.