16- and 17-year old high school students may not work after 11 pm on evenings before school days or before 5 am on school days. My child wants to get a job.How old must he or she be to work? 16 and 17: Can work up to 8 hours on school days, 9 hours on nonschool days, and 30 hours per school week. Work certificates are not required for 16 and 17yearolds. By state law, 16 and 17yearold high school students may not work after 11 p.m. On evenings before school days or before 5 a.m. Minors 16 and 17 years of age have no hour restrictions, but may not work between the hours of 11 p.m. Exceptions to the prohibited-work limitations include: • 17-year-old high school graduate. Minnesota child labor laws do not restrict the number of hours a 16 years old and 17 years old may work each day.