Minimum Legal Working Age in Alberta

What is the minimum legal age to work in Alberta?

In Alberta, the minimum legal age to work is 12 years old for certain artistic activities, with specific job and hour restrictions based on age. Young workers under 18 years of age are entitled to minimum wage, holiday pay, and job-protected leave.

• • Note: The minimum legal working age in Alberta is determined by the Employment Standards Code (ESC).

Restrictions

In Alberta, there are restrictions on the jobs and work hours for individuals under 18 years old:

Job Restrictions

• Certain jobs for individuals aged 14 and younger require a government permit
• Different rules apply based on age group and type of work.
• Parental or guardian permission is required for individuals aged 14 and under to work.

Hour Restrictions

• Specific regulations govern the hours that minors under 18 are allowed to work.

Important Exception

• Different rules apply to students in approved training courses or integrated learning programs.

Employer Responsibilities

• Employers must perform hazard assessments and control workplace hazards for all employees under 18, ensuring a safe working environment.

Industry-specific age requirements

The minimum age varies by industry:

12 years old or under

• Artistic activities including film, radio, video, television, theatre plays, musical performances, or voice recordings for computer games, as long as the employee has a government permit and parent or guardian consent.

13 to 14 years old

• Clerk or messenger
• Delivery person for small goods and merchandise
• Delivering flyers and newspapers
• Light janitorial work in offices
• Tutorial or coaching for a recreational athletic club or association
• Food service employee in a restaurant or other establishment
• The employee needs parent or guardian consent, and a permit is required if the employee is doing artistic activities or work not listed above.
• Restrictions include no work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., no work during school hours (unless enrolled in an off-campus education program), up to 2 hours of work outside regular school hours on school days, and up to 8 hours on non-school days.

15 to 17 years old

• Can work in any kind of job without a permit.
• Parent or guardian consent is needed only to work during restricted hours.

Self-employed and contractors

In Alberta, ESC rules apply to individuals under 18 years old only if they are employees. These regulations do not cover self-employed individuals, independent contractors, or volunteers under 18.

This includes casual work such as:

• Babysitting
• Snow shoveling
• Lawn cutting

For similar jobs, like refereeing, the classification depends on the nature of the work relationship. Some workers may be true employees, while others might work casually or as self-employed contractors. The key factor is whether the worker is an employee.

Additional resources

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has additional resources about your employment rights in Alberta, including guides on statutory holidays, CPP payment dates, vacation time and pay, and severance pay.

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you are a non-unionized employee, and have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.