Role of Work Permits in Teen Work Experiences in North Carolina

Background: Work permits are required for youth workers under 18 in North Carolina but little is known about differences in hazard exposures and violations of child labor laws between youth with and without work permits.

Methods: Data were obtained from a school based survey (n=844) of working students in 16 randomly selected high schools in North Carolina in fall 2005. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses compared safety training, knowledge of child labor laws, hazardous occupations and work hour violations between teens with work permits and those without.

Results: In adjusted logistic models teens with work permits were 2.3 times more likely to have safety training, 2.7 times more likely to be informed of child labor laws, and half as likely (0.5 times) to work in construction activities than teens without work permits. Teens with more knowledge of child labor laws were significantly less likely to perform several illegal hazardous tasks. A high percentage of teens with and without work permits worked long and late hours in violation of child labor laws. Chi-square analyses revealed that teens with work permits were less likely to perform several illegal hazardous tasks but there were no significant associations with work hour violations (working late and exceeding the legal number of daily and weekly work hours).

Conclusions: Findings will have implications for the effectiveness and limitations of the work permit system and for needed educational interventions aimed at employers, parents, teens and teachers.