What is the minimum age for employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes rules regarding the minimum age for employment. According to the FLSA, the minimum age for most non-agricultural employment is 14 years old. This regulation is in place to ensure that younger individuals are not exploited in the workforce and that they are able to prioritize education while still having opportunities for limited work.

At 14, minors may work in certain jobs that are considered to be non-hazardous and have restrictions on the number of hours they can work and when they can work. The law then becomes more lenient as individuals age, allowing more hours and types of work as they approach adulthood. The other age options, while relevant to certain contexts within labor laws, do not reflect the general minimum age for most types of employment under the FLSA.