The basics
There isn't one minimum working age for all of Canada. Each province and territory sets its own rules, and they often depend on the kind of job. In most places, 14- and 15-year-olds can do some kinds of work, often with a parent's or guardian's written consent and limits on hours during the school year, and 16 is the age when most restrictions end.
On Bilingo, you can create an account to find jobs from age 14. If you're 14 or 15, you need a parent's or guardian's permission to use Bilingo and apply for jobs.
Some jobs need you to be 18: most jobs in federally regulated industries, such as banks, telecommunications, postal services, and airlines, and some of the most hazardous work, such as underground mining.
Western Canada
| Province | Rules for young workers |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 12 and under: only artistic work, with a permit. 13–14: jobs on the approved "light work" list (such as office or retail clerk, delivery, tutoring, some restaurant work) with a parent's consent, up to 2 hours on school days and not between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.; other jobs need a permit. 15: any type of work, but not during school hours. Parental consent is also needed for young people to work late-night hours. |
| British Columbia | The general working age is 16. 14–15: "light work" (such as food service, recreation and sports, light farm and yard work, and some skilled or technical work) with a parent's or guardian's permission; other work needs a permit. |
| Manitoba | 13–15: complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course and have a parent's or guardian's consent. You must be directly supervised by an adult, can't work between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and can't work more than 20 hours in a school week. |
| Saskatchewan | The general working age is 16. 14–15: complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course and have a parent's or guardian's written consent. During the school year: no more than 16 hours in a school week, no work after 10 p.m. the night before a school day, and no work before classes. Under 16, no construction, forestry, or meat processing; under 18, no underground mining. |
Central Canada
| Province | Rules for young workers |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 14: offices, stores, arenas, and restaurant serving areas. 15: factories, including restaurant kitchens, repair shops, warehouses, and grocery meat and produce preparation. 16: construction, logging, and surface mines. 18: underground mines, window cleaning, and offshore rigs. Under 16, no work during school hours. |
| Quebec | 14 is the minimum working age. Under 14, only certain jobs (such as babysitting or work in a family business) with a signed parental consent form. While you still have to attend school: no work during class hours or between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and no more than 17 hours a week, with at most 10 hours from Monday to Friday. |
Atlantic Canada
| Province | Rules for young workers |
|---|---|
| New Brunswick | Under 16: no more than 6 hours a day or 3 hours on a school day, no work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and the employer needs authorization from the Employment Standards Branch. Under 14: also no work in forestry, construction, industrial work, automotive service, hotels and restaurants, or theatres and dance halls. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Under 16: a parent's or guardian's written consent is needed, the work can't be hazardous or harmful, and there are limits on hours on school days and late at night. |
| Nova Scotia | Under 16: no work in mining, manufacturing, construction, forestry, garages, hotels, or theatres (14–15-year-olds may work in restaurants, but not with cooking equipment). Under 14: no more than 3 hours on a school day and no work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. From 16, the youth rules no longer apply. |
| Prince Edward Island | Under 16: no construction work, no work between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. or during school hours, and no more than 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on other days, or 40 hours a week. A parent's or guardian's written consent can allow exceptions to the hour limits. |
The territories
| Territory | Rules for young workers |
|---|---|
| Northwest Territories | No set minimum age. Under 17, you need approval from an Employment Standards Officer to work between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. or when you're required to be in school. Under 16, no work in certain industries, such as construction and forestry. |
| Nunavut | No set minimum age. Under 17, no work between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without written approval from a Labour Standards Officer, and construction work needs a special permit. |
| Yukon | No set minimum age, but young people can't be employed in work that could harm their health, safety, or education, and those in school generally can't work during school hours. |
For employers
You're responsible for following the youth employment rules of the province or territory where the job is, or the federal rules if your business is federally regulated, including permits, parental consent, supervision, and limits on hours and the type of work. If a job has a minimum age, such as 16 or 18, say so clearly in the listing. See section 5.1 of our Terms of Use.
Official sources
This page is a general guide based on government information checked in September 2026. It isn't legal advice, and the rules change, so check the official source for your province or territory before starting a job:
- Alberta — Youth employment laws
- British Columbia — Hiring young people
- Manitoba — Young employees
- Saskatchewan — Minimum age and workplace restrictions
- Ontario — Minimum age for work
- Quebec — Young workers (CNESST)
- New Brunswick — Employment of children under 16
- Newfoundland and Labrador — Labour Standards
- Nova Scotia — Employment of children
- Prince Edward Island — Youth Employment Act
- Northwest Territories — Employment standards
- Nunavut — Labour and employment standards
- Yukon — Employment standards
- Federally regulated jobs — Canada Labour Standards Regulations
