Jobs for 14 and 15 year olds

By the Vocatia team · Updated 26 October 2026 · How we write our guides

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You can work at 14 or 15, but the law limits your hours and the jobs you can do. In England and Wales, your employer will usually need a child employment permit from the council before you start.

Quick answers

Minimum age: Usually 14 in England and Wales. Some councils allow 13-year-olds to do specified light work under local byelaws.
Term-time limit: 12 hours a week at both 14 and 15.
Holiday limit: 25 hours a week at 14 and 35 hours a week at 15.
Minimum wage: There is no National Minimum Wage for school-aged children under 16.
Work permit: Most councils require one. The employer usually applies.

How many hours can you work?

The current limits for England and Wales come from section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and are summarised by GOV.UK. A council can set tighter local rules.

Current permitted working hours in England and Wales
When	Age 14	Age 15
School day	2 hours	2 hours
Saturday in term time	5 hours	8 hours
Sunday	2 hours	2 hours
School week	12 hours	12 hours
Holiday weekday or Saturday	5 hours	8 hours
Holiday Sunday	2 hours	2 hours
Holiday week	25 hours	35 hours
Earliest start	7am	7am
Latest finish	7pm	7pm

You cannot work during school hours. If you work for more than four hours in a day, you must have a one-hour rest break. You must also have two consecutive weeks without work during the school holidays each year. These protections are set out in the Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998 and the amended 1933 Act.

You remain a child under these employment rules until the last Friday in June in the school year when you turn 16. GOV.UK explains when the child-employment restrictions end.

Changes to the law are coming

Position checked in October 2026: the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 contains new child-employment rules for England and Wales, and a future framework for Scotland. The practical changes have not been brought fully into force, and no official start date has been announced. This guide uses the rules in force now and will be updated when the new rules start.

Jobs you can usually do

The exact list depends on your council's byelaws and the duties in the job. Official council guidance includes the following kinds of light work:

Paper rounds

Delivering newspapers or leaflets means walking or cycling a route, often early in the day. You cannot begin before 7am, and the round must fit within your daily and weekly limits.

Shop work

You may be able to stack shelves, price goods, pack orders or help with straightforward shop duties. Shop work usually means spending much of the shift on your feet.

Cafés and restaurants

Some councils allow light front-of-house work such as clearing tables or helping at a counter. Work in a commercial kitchen is commonly prohibited.

Hairdressing salons and offices

Salon work might include sweeping, tidying and preparing towels. Office work can include filing, copying or other supervised administrative tasks.

Gardens, farms and stables

Some light gardening, horticultural, agricultural and stable work is allowed. The employer must make sure the task, equipment and level of supervision are suitable for your age.

Car washing and animal care

Some councils allow washing cars by hand at private homes, work in kennels or catteries, and dog walking. Essex County Council lists examples of permitted animal-care work, but your own council may have different rules.

Portsmouth City Council and Leicester City Council publish examples of work their byelaws allow. They are useful examples, but they do not replace your own council's rules.

Babysitting and odd jobs for neighbours

Occasional babysitting or a one-off job for a neighbour may not count as employment. Bath and North East Somerset Council says occasional babysitting and one-off casual jobs where no business profits are made are not classed as employment. Regular work for a business can be different, so ask your council if you are unsure.

Agree what you will do, how long it should take and how much you will be paid before starting. A parent or carer should know where you are, who you are working for and when you are expected home.

Jobs you cannot usually do

Council byelaws differ, but official guidance commonly prohibits children from doing:

work in factories, industrial premises or on building sites
work with dangerous machinery, equipment or harmful substances
work in commercial kitchens
milk or fuel delivery and rubbish collection
work more than three metres above the ground
door-to-door or telephone sales
work in slaughterhouses or butchery
work in fairgrounds or amusement arcades
personal care work in care homes unless local rules permit it with suitable adult supervision
selling alcohol, apart from limited circumstances allowed by local rules, such as handling sealed containers

The common restrictions above appear in guidance from Gloucestershire County Council and Portsmouth City Council. Your council may prohibit other work too.

How a child employment permit works

Most councils require a child employment permit. The employer usually applies to the council for the area where you will work. Work experience arranged by your school is treated differently.

The form normally asks for details about you, the employer, the work and the hours. A parent or guardian usually provides consent or a statement that you are fit to do the work. Some councils also involve your school. The employer should assess the risks of the job and explain how you will be trained and supervised.

The documents and processing times vary. There is no single national form or deadline, so the employer should check the process and apply before you start. Use GOV.UK's council finder to reach the correct council.

What a parent or carer should check

the permit has been applied for where one is required
the duties match what the council has been told
the working times stay within the legal limits
the employer has explained training, supervision and risks
the pay and payment date are agreed in writing
there is a named adult to contact if something goes wrong

Pay, tax and National Insurance

If you are still below school-leaving age, you are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage. Agree your hourly rate before you begin and ask when and how you will be paid.

Under-16s do not pay National Insurance. Income Tax only comes in if your total income goes over the Personal Allowance, which is £12,570 for the 2026 to 2027 tax year.

After you reach school-leaving age, the minimum-wage position changes. From 1 April 2026, an eligible worker aged 16 or 17 must receive at least £8.00 an hour. National Insurance can also apply from age 16, depending on your earnings.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales

The current hours in the main table apply in Wales as well as England. The Welsh Government publishes a permitted-hours guide, and local council byelaws still matter.

Scotland

Scotland has separate legislation, council byelaws and school-leaving dates. The Scottish Government's employment of children guide explains the current age, hours, rest and permit rules. The future Scottish changes mentioned above are not yet fully in force.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, light work can start at 13. Below 15, the limits are two hours on school days and Sundays, five hours on Saturdays and holiday weekdays, 12 hours in a school week and 27 hours in a holiday week. From 15 to school-leaving age, they are two hours on school days and Sundays, seven hours on Saturdays in term, and seven hours a day or 37 hours a week in holidays. Work must be between 7am and 7pm. The employer needs a permit from the Education Authority and written parental consent. See nibusinessinfo's compulsory-school-age guidance and nidirect's young-worker guidance.

Performing, modelling and paid sport

Performing, modelling and paid sport use a separate licensing system. The organiser may need to obtain a child performance licence from the council. GOV.UK explains when a licence may be needed and how to apply.

What changes when you turn 16?

The child-employment restrictions do not end on your birthday. In England and Wales, they normally end on the last Friday in June in the school year when you turn 16. After that, you become a young worker and different rules cover pay, working hours, rest and night work.

Our guide to jobs for 16 and 17 year olds explains those rules and the wider range of work available after school-leaving age.

Check the rules where you live

Rules can vary by council, so check with yours before accepting work. The employer should confirm whether a permit is needed and apply for it before you begin. You can find your local council on GOV.UK.

Last checked: 26 October 2026