N.J. labor officials remind teens working papers required before starting summer jobs

TRENTON, N.J. — As summer hiring ramps up across New Jersey, state labor officials are reminding teens and their families that working papers are required before minors can begin employment.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is urging young workers to use its online system, MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, to apply for the required documents and ensure compliance with state labor laws.

Under New Jersey law, all minors under 18 must obtain working papers before starting a job. Employers must also register through the online system, which has replaced the previous school-based process.

“After school and summer jobs teach young people valuable skills and give them real-world experience, but the key to getting started is working papers,” said Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “Our online system makes it easy for families to help young people get working papers quickly so they can get to work, and it assists employers in following the state’s labor laws. We have an obligation to do all we can to protect the safety and wellbeing of our greatest resource — New Jersey’s youngest workers.”

Since launching in 2023, the online platform has processed more than 227,000 applications from minors, with about 215,000 approved. Nearly 20,000 employers have also registered with the system, officials said.

To apply, minors must first secure a job offer. Employers provide an eight-digit code required for the application, while caregivers must verify age and complete their portion of the process. Minors can begin working once their application is approved.

State officials also highlighted key labor protections for young workers, including minimum age requirements, limits on work hours, required meal breaks and eligibility for paid sick leave.

More information on working papers and youth employment laws is available through the Department of Labor’s website.