West Virginia

Discussion

West Virginia: Child Labor Occupation Prohibitions

Effective June 8, 2026, HB 4005 eliminates West Virginia’s standalone list of prohibited nonagricultural occupations for minors. Prohibited occupations are now determined by reference to applicable federal child labor rules, supplemented by state-specific provisions. Under the state provisions, minors remain prohibited from working in bars or from selling, dispensing, or serving alcoholic beverages where on-premises consumption is permitted, with an exception for retail alcohol sales. Students enrolled in a Youth Apprenticeship Program may work on associated machinery on an occasional and incidental basis, defined as for training purposes only and not more than 5% of daily training hours, under mandatory direct supervision. A partial exemption also applies for students performing roofing operations.

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