Some things to consider when hiring Young Workers

The House of Commons Library research published on 18 August 2026 reports that between April and June 2026 there were 739,000 unemployed young people aged 16 to 24, which is 97,000 more than the previous year. Businesses therefore have a real opportunity to bring young talent into their workforce.

Who this article covers

This article concerns “Young Workers”  meaning those aged 15-17 who are over compulsory school age in respect of England and Wales . These Young Workers have some distinct legal rights and protections that employers need to be aware of and apply. 

Getting the requirements wrong can be costly, and more importantly, can fail a Young Worker who deserves proper support at the start of their working life.  

Rest breaks and daily and weekly working time

Young Workers are entitled to at least a 30-minute rest break after four and a half hours’ work, as well as generally longer daily and weekly rest periods than adult workers. Young workers are also generally limited to working 8 hours in any day and 40 hours in any week (Monday to Sunday). Employers should check these limits carefully when taking on Young Workers.

There are exceptions relating to the armed forces, mobile workers and domestic service. There are also other exceptions including relating to unusual or unforeseen circumstances.

Record keeping 

Employers must keep records demonstrating compliance with working time limits and night work rules.

Enforcement 

Breaches of the Working Time Regulations 1998 can attract a range of sanctions. 

The HSE or local authority environmental health departments can enforce limits on working time and related record keeping requirements. Individuals can also enforce certain rights.

 These are only some of the rights that businesses need to consider when taking on Young Worker talent. 

The contents of this article are a general guide only at the date of publication. It is not comprehensive, and it does not constitute legal advice. Specific legal advice should be sought in relation to the particular facts of a given situation.