Working at 15, 16 or 17 in BC and Ontario

A first job as a teenager is a great way to earn money, learn skills, and build references. Both BC and Ontario let teens work, but the rules depend on your age, your province, and the kind of work.

We checked these rules on October 12, 2026. Rules and rates change, so follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

The rules at a glance

The details are below.

BC

16 and 17

At 16, your employer must follow the regular employment standards, just like for adult workers. WorkSafeBC's requirements for young workers also apply (Hiring young people).

You get the same minimum wage as everyone else: $18.25 an hour since June 1, 2026. BC has no separate rate for students or youth (BC minimum wage).

Some hazardous jobs are off-limits until you turn 18. These include logging and tree falling, chainsaw work, production work in fish, poultry, or animal processing, production work in mills, smelters, and refineries, and work in confined spaces (Hiring young people).

14 and 15

• Parent permission. A parent or guardian must give written permission for you to work. Your employer must keep a record of it.
• Light work only. Without a special permit, you can do only "light work." That means work that is not harmful to your health or development.
• Supervision. BC says children must work under the direct supervision of someone who is at least 19 years old.

(Hiring young people)

BC's light work list includes many first jobs:

• Cashier, and salesperson (but not door-to-door sales)
• Stocking shelves, bagging customers' orders, and price marking
• Preparing food, busing tables, dishwashing, hosting, and serving food or drinks
• Cleaning and tidying
• Lifeguard or assistant lifeguard, and summer or day camp leader or counsellor
• Tutor, coach, referee, or umpire
• Delivering goods, and messenger or courier work

Not light work includes operating machinery that could harm you, working at construction or heavy industrial sites, lifting items that risk injury, and handling hazardous chemicals. Under 16, you also can't do some hazardous work, such as construction or any work that needs a fall protection system (Hiring young people).

Hours for workers under 15

If you are under 15, you can't be required to work during school hours, and you can't work more than:

• 4 hours on a school day
• 7 hours on a non-school day
• 20 hours in a week with 5 school days
• 35 hours a week when school is not in session

At 15 and older, the standard hours of work rules apply (Hiring young people).

Under 14

Employers usually need a permit from Employment Standards to hire children under 14. If you are 12 or 13, there are a few exceptions, like assistant coaching or working in a family business, as long as you don't do tasks that are "not light work" (Hiring young people).

Ontario

Minimum ages by type of workplace

Ontario sets the minimum age by where you work (Minimum age for work):

• 14: offices, stores, arenas, and restaurant serving areas
• 15: factories, including restaurant kitchens, warehouses, repair shops, automotive service garages, laundries, and produce and meat preparation or shipping and receiving areas in grocery stores
• 16: construction, logging, and some mining work
• 18: underground mines, window cleaning, and work on offshore oil or gas rigs

So at 14, you could work as a cashier or host. To wash dishes in a restaurant kitchen or stock a warehouse, you need to be 15.

School hours

Under Ontario's Education Act, children generally must attend school from age 6 until age 18. Employers can't employ children under 16 during school hours (Minimum age for work).

Student minimum wage

Since October 1, 2026, Ontario's minimum wage is $17.95 an hour. The student minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (Ontario minimum wage).

The student rate applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or who work during a school break or summer holidays. Once you turn 18, the general rate applies. Ontario updates its rates every October 1, and announces the new rates by April 1.

Your rights as a young worker

In Ontario, anyone under 25 is a "young worker." In most cases, young workers have the same rights under the Employment Standards Act as other employees (Young workers' rights). For example:

• Your employer can't keep your tips.
• Your employer can deduct the cost of a uniform from your pay only if you agree in writing.
• You can't be punished for asking about your rights.

Good first jobs for teens

Common first jobs include cashier, grocery clerk, host or busser at a restaurant, camp counsellor, and tutor. Check the age rules above before you apply. A job that is fine at 14 in one place may need you to be 15 or 16 in another.

Jobs that serve or sell alcohol have their own age rules. Read FOODSAFE and Serving It Right in BC or Smart Serve and food handler certification in Ontario.

Many employers will ask about your school schedule. Our guide Job availability explained shows how to fill it in honestly.

Staying safe

A new job comes with new risks, and nobody expects you to know them yet. In BC, your employer must give you proper orientation, training, and supervision, and you have the right to refuse unsafe work (WorkSafeBC). Ontario's basic safety training also teaches that you can refuse work you believe is unsafe (Ontario). Read How to refuse unsafe work in BC and Ontario.

If you are asked to do something that is not allowed for your age, like using dangerous machinery at 14 in BC, you can say no politely. Tell a parent or another adult you trust.

Where to check the rules

• BC: Call the Employment Standards Branch at 1-833-236-3700, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. You can get help in the language of your choice (Contact Employment Standards).
• Ontario: Call the Employment Standards Information Centre at 1-800-531-5551 (toll-free) or 416-326-7160, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available in many languages (Your guide to the ESA).

Your school counsellor can also help, especially if you want to fit a job around your classes.

Next steps

• Know your full rights: Your rights at work in BC and Your rights at work in Ontario
• No jobs yet? Start with Volunteering to build experience and references
• Write your first resume: Writing your first resume with no work experience
• Find part-time jobs in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area