Jobs for 16 and 17 year olds

By the Vocatia team · Updated 20 October 2026 · How we write our guides

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Jobs for 16 and 17 year olds include weekend and part-time work in shops, cafés, leisure, cleaning and seasonal roles, as well as paid apprenticeships. You can start with the kind of day you want – on your feet, helping customers, hands-on or mostly sitting – then check each advert's age and experience requirements.

Right now Vocatia lists 435 UK jobs with apprenticeship training. (Live figures, 20 October 2026.)

Browse 435 apprenticeships ›

What jobs can you get at 16 or 17?

Many employers take on people aged 16 or 17 once they are above school leaving age. The same broad choices apply to jobs for 17 year olds, although one extra year may open some duties. The realistic options depend on the hours, duties and employer, not just the job title. Some adverts welcome school leavers; others set a minimum age because of late shifts, driving, alcohol, machinery or insurance.

Retail and supermarkets

Part-time jobs for 16 year olds often include sales assistant, shelf-stacking, stock and online-order duties. Weekend and seasonal work can be a useful first step. The National Careers Service says temporary sales work is common at busy times such as Christmas.

You can work in a supermarket at 16, but the employer decides which duties are suitable. In England and Wales, each alcohol sale by someone under 18 normally needs approval from an authorised adult. Some employers therefore keep under-18s away from tills that sell alcohol.

Cafés, restaurants and hospitality

Cafés, restaurants, hotels and takeaways may hire counter assistants, waiting staff, kitchen assistants, housekeepers and pot washers. These jobs can build customer service and teamwork skills. Check the finishing time carefully because young-worker night rules still apply when a business stays open late.

Cinemas, leisure and events

Cinemas, sports centres, visitor attractions and event venues may offer customer service, cleaning, food counter or ushering work. Evening and weekend shifts are common. Ask whether the role has an age requirement and how late a normal shift ends.

Warehouse, cleaning and seasonal work

Picking, packing, stock work, cleaning and temporary seasonal jobs can be open to school leavers. Some warehouse and production duties are restricted because of equipment or risk. HSE says employers should consider age limits for equipment such as forklift trucks and some woodworking machinery, and give young workers suitable training and supervision.

Seasonal jobs are common in retail, hospitality and delivery at busy times. Farm and outdoor work also appears seasonally, but employers must still assess the work properly for someone under 18.

Part-time jobs near you

1,637 jobs

  • Cleaner

    On your feet With my hands Physically active

    BUZZ Bingo · Gateshead

    £12.71 an hour

    Part-time

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Your rights at 16 and 17

These rules are minimum protections, not a guide to what every shift should look like. Your contract may offer better pay, shorter hours or longer breaks. If a job crosses midnight, involves long shifts or pays less than expected, ask the employer to explain the arrangement before you accept it.

Minimum pay

From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for a worker under 18 is £8.00 an hour. The apprentice minimum rate is also £8.00 an hour. The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, and to apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Employers can pay more, and many do.

The rates normally change each April. Check the current GOV.UK rate when you apply, especially if you are reading this guide after 31 March 2027. You must be above school leaving age to qualify for the National Minimum Wage.

Hours, breaks and rest

A young worker who is above school leaving age but under 18 normally cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. GOV.UK says you should usually get a 30-minute break when you work more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' rest between working days and 48 hours' rest each week.

There are narrow exceptions, but an employer cannot simply ask you to opt out of the young-worker limits. Acas can explain your rights if the hours or breaks do not look right.

Night work

At 16 or 17, you cannot work between midnight and 4am. You also usually cannot work between 10pm and 6am, although a contract can change that protected period to 11pm to 7am. Limited exceptions cover work such as retail, hotels and catering, hospitals, agriculture, post and newspaper delivery, and cultural or sporting activities.

Those exceptions do not remove every protection. Night work must be genuinely needed under the rules, and the employer must provide appropriate rest and consider your health and safety.

Education or training until 18

In England, leaving school at 16 does not mean leaving education or training completely. Until 18 you must stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship, or work or volunteer for at least 20 hours a week while doing part-time education or training.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different school-leaving and participation rules. Check the guidance for where you live rather than assuming the England rule applies.

How apprenticeships work

For many people looking at jobs for school leavers, an apprenticeship is a practical place to start. It is a real paid job combined with training and study. You are an employee, so you have employment rights such as paid holiday, and the employer pays for the apprenticeship training. Apprenticeships are open to adults too, so always check the entry requirements rather than assuming a vacancy is only for school leavers.

In England, apprenticeship levels run from level 2 to level 7. Level 2 and level 3 vacancies are common starting points after school; higher and degree apprenticeships ask for stronger qualifications or previous learning. A level describes the difficulty of the training, while the advert tells you which grades, skills or experience you need.

You can search and apply through the official Find an Apprenticeship service. Read the wage, weekly hours, training provider, location and qualification carefully. A genuine apprenticeship should name the job and training; you do not pay for the apprenticeship training yourself.

Apprenticeships near you

435 jobs

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How to find your first job

Write a short CV without inventing experience

Your first CV can use examples from school projects, clubs, caring responsibilities, volunteering, work experience and hobbies. The National Careers Service recommends including contact details, a short introduction, education, work history and references. If you have no paid work history, focus on useful skills such as reliability, communication, numeracy, organisation and working with others.

Change the first few lines for each application. A café needs different evidence from a warehouse or office. Use a sensible email address, check spelling and ask someone you trust to read it before you send it.

Apply online and in person

Follow the method in the advert. Large employers usually want an online form; smaller shops, cafés and local businesses may accept a CV in person. If you visit, choose a quiet time, dress neatly and ask politely for the person who handles recruitment. Do not interrupt a busy lunch or evening service.

Tell teachers, tutors, relatives and trusted adults what kind of work you want. They may know a local employer or agree to be a reference. Ask someone before putting their name and contact details on an application.

Stay safe while job hunting

Do not pay someone to find you ordinary work. GOV.UK says recruitment agencies cannot charge a fee for finding or trying to find you a job. Be cautious if an advert promises unusually high pay for easy work, gives no clear employer, interviews only through messages, or asks for money, bank details or identity documents before explaining the job properly.

Check the employer's own website and use a known application service. Talk to a parent, carer, teacher or another trusted adult if anything feels wrong. Never send money to unlock tasks, buy cryptocurrency for an employer or receive and forward money through your own bank account.

Choose a job by how you want to work

A first job does not have to decide your whole career. Start with the day you would be comfortable doing. Choose jobs on your feet if you like moving around, or Sit down jobs if you prefer a desk, till or reception setting. Customer facing jobs suit people who enjoy helping the public, while practical roles may involve stock, cleaning or food preparation.

Use the No experience jobs page for adverts that clearly say previous experience is not needed. Apprenticeships combine a paid job with training. Part-time and Temporary filters can help you fit work around education, while Immediate start shows adverts where the employer says you can begin quickly.

If you are younger than 16, a separate guide for 13 to 15 year olds is coming. Different rules apply to children below school leaving age, including local council restrictions and limits on the work and hours they can do.

Common questions

What jobs can you get at 16?

The best jobs for 16 year olds are the ones that fit around education, offer proper training and have suitable duties. Jobs for teens commonly include shop and supermarket work, café and restaurant jobs, cinema and leisure roles, cleaning, seasonal work and apprenticeships. Whether a particular vacancy accepts 16-year-olds depends on its duties, hours, risks and the employer's policy.

How much should a 16 year old get paid?

From 1 April 2026, an eligible worker aged 16 or 17 must usually receive at least £8.00 an hour. The apprentice minimum is also £8.00 an hour. These are minimum rates, so an employer can offer more.

How many hours can a 16 year old work?

Above school leaving age and under 18, you normally cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. You should usually receive a 30-minute break after more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest and 48 hours' weekly rest. Education or training duties may also limit the shifts you can accept.

Can a 16 year old work in a supermarket?

Yes, many supermarket duties can be suitable for someone aged 16. The employer may restrict late shifts, machinery, delivery driving or alcohol sales. Check the vacancy's minimum age and ask what duties the role includes.

Do I need a CV at 16?

Not for every job, because some employers use an application form. It is still useful to have a simple one-page CV. Include your education, skills and examples from school, volunteering, activities or work experience, and ask a teacher or trusted adult to check it.

Start with how you want to work

Look at paid apprenticeships, no-experience roles and part-time jobs, then add the working style that suits you.

Browse 435 apprenticeships ›

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