# N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.2: Minors under 16 not to be employed; exceptions; nonresidents

> New Jersey · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.2

## Section

- **Citation:** N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.2
- **Heading:** Minors under 16 not to be employed; exceptions; nonresidents
- **Jurisdiction:** New Jersey
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** NJ Code / Title 34 / Chapter 2 / Section 2-21.2

## Text

2. No minor under 16 years of age shall be employed, permitted, or suffered to work in, about, or in connection with any gainful occupation at any time; provided, that minors between 14 and 16 years of age may be employed, permitted or suffered to work outside school hours and during school vacations but not in or for a factory or in any occupation otherwise prohibited by law or by order or regulation made in pursuance of law; and provided, further, that minors under 16 years of age may engage in professional employment in theatrical productions upon the obtaining of a permit therefor and may engage outside school hours and during school vacations in agricultural pursuits or in street trades and as newspaperboys as defined in this act, in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of this act. Minors may also engage in employment in domestic service performed outside of school hours or during school vacations, in a residence other than the minor's own home. Nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to the work of a minor engaged in domestic service or agricultural pursuits performed outside of school hours or during school vacations in connection with the minor's own home and directly for his parents or legal guardian. Except as to the employment of a minor for whom a theatrical employment permit has been issued, no minor under 16 years of age not a resident of this State shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in any occupation or service whatsoever at any time during which the law of the state of his residence required his attendance at school, or at any time during the hours when the public schools in the district in which employment in such occupation or services may be available are in session. L.1940, c. 153, p. 332, s. 2. Amended by L.1956, c. 127, p. 530, s. 1; L.1962, c. 91, s. 9; L.1964, c. 288, s. 2; L.1983, c. 196, s. 1, eff. May 27, 1983; amended 2022, c.63, s.2.

## Nearby sections

- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-1 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-1.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.1 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.1.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.1a Database created, maintained, employment of minors; employer registration, required; rules, regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.1a.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.2 Minors under 16 not to be employed; exceptions; nonresidents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.2.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.3 Limitations on minors' working hours.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.3.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.4 Lunch period for minors under 18](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.4.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.5 Posting of law, list of prohibited occupations and schedule of hours of labor; permitting minors to begin later or stop earlier than time stated in schedule](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.5.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.6 Record of employment of minors under 19](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.6.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.15 Street trade; agricultural pursuits; ages when permitted; special permits; newspaper carriers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.15.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.16 Fees or expenses not to be paid by child, parent or guardian](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.16.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.17 Prohibited employment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.17.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.17a Inapplicability of s. 34:2-21.17 to participants in junior achievement program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.17a.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.17b Provisions for minors as volunteers at recycling centers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.17b.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.17c Not considered employee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.17c.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T34_C2_S2-21.2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.