Working Papers

To apply locally for Statement of Age / Working Papers, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Are you at least 16 years old (15 years old for retail establishments during vacation weeks)?
  • Do you have an employer's written promise of employment?
  • Do you have proof of age such as a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or passport?
  • Do you have your Social Security card?
  • Is the job permitted for your age according to Connecticut's laws/regulations?
  • Is the industry permitted for your age according to Connecticut's laws/regulations?
  • Are the time and hours of work permitted by law?

If the answers to all of the above questions are "YES", take your "promise of employment" and proof of age and go to the nearest public high school. If you attend a private school, go to the public high school that you would've attended to obtain your papers. You MUST have working papers before you start work.

The following are PERMITTED occupations for 14 & 15 year olds:

  • Agriculture
  • Street trades (newspaper delivery, shoe shining, baby-sitting, etc.)
  • Hospitals (no food service or laundry)
  • Convalescent homes (no food service or laundry)
  • Hotels and motels (no food service or laundry)
  • Banks
  • Insurance companies
  • Professional offices (lawyers, CPA, etc.)
  • Municipalities (library attendants, recreation departments, etc.)
  • Golf caddies
  • Acting
  • Household chores for private homeowners (yard work, etc.)
  • Licensed summer camps

Fifteen year olds may only be employed in retail/mercantile establishments as baggers, cashiers or stock clerks during non-school weeks only (working papers are required) and effective October 1, 2000, they may be employed in retail food stores on Saturdays only throughout the school year (maximum 8 hours per day).

There are some exceptions for school-to-career, cooperative work experience, and city/town summer work-recreation programs. Inquiries about these programs should be directed to school officials.

Minimum Wage

Effective Date

$6.15 per hour

January 1, 2000

$6.40 per hour

January 1, 2001

$6.70 per hour

January 1, 2002

$6.90 per hour

January 1, 2003

$7.10 per hour

January 1, 2004
(unchanged for 2005)

The following are PROHIBITED places of employment for 14 & 15 year olds:

  • Restaurant / food service
  • Recreational establishments
  • Manufacturing industries
  • Mechanical / service industries
  • Mercantile / solicitation
  • Theatrical industry
  • Barber shops
  • Any other business types not listed on the permitted occupation list.

14 & 15 year-old minors may not be employed:

  • During school hours
  • Before 7:00am or after 7:00pm, except from July 1 to Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9:00pm.
  • More than 3 hours per day on school days or 8 hours on non-school days.
  • More than 18 hours a week in school weeks or 40 hours in non-school weeks.

Federal Requirements
The child labor provisions of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) apply concurrently in the State of Connecticut, and may be more restrictive. The U.S. Department of Labor should be contacted at (860) 240-4160 for further information.

This information was provided by the State of Connecticut Department of Labor. For further information, you may contact the State DOL Wage & Workplace Standards Division at (860) 263-6791, or visit their Youth Employment website.

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