Jobs for 15 Year Olds: What You Need to Know in Ireland

Getting your first job at 15 in Ireland can feel like a puzzle — the law sets strict limits, but plenty of employers are still looking for young, reliable workers. This guide walks through what’s actually allowed, where to look, and which jobs are worth your time, all grounded in official rules from the Workplace Relations Commission.

Minimum legal working age in Ireland (part-time): 14 ·
Full-time employment restriction for 14-15 year olds: Not allowed in regular full-time jobs ·
Common job types for 15-year-olds: Retail, hospitality, cleaning, animal care

Here are the key facts about teen employment in Ireland.

Can you get a job if you are 15?

Yes, you can — but the rules depend on where you live. In Ireland, the general minimum age for regular employment is 16, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (regulator). However, 14- and 15-year-olds may be employed on light work in specific circumstances. Children aged 14 and 15 cannot be employed in regular full-time jobs, as confirmed by Citizens Information (government guidance).

What are the legal working hours for a 15 year old in Ireland?

A 15-year-old in Ireland may work part-time during the school term, but only for a maximum of 8 hours per week, per WRC guidance. During school holidays, they can work up to 35 hours per week. On an approved work experience programme, they may work up to 40 hours per week. Children aged 15 can do 8 hours of light work a week, and children aged 14 are not allowed to work during school time, according to Citizens Information.

Do you need a work permit to work at 15 in Ireland?

Before employing someone under 16, an employer must see the child’s birth certificate and obtain written permission from a parent or guardian, as per WRC regulations. An employer must apply in writing for a licence at least 21 days before the employment begins. Children under 16 can be employed in cultural, artistic, sports or advertising work under a licence if it is not harmful and does not interfere with school attendance, according to a WRC guide (employment law explained).

The key is to understand the limitations and plan accordingly.

Steps to get a job at 15 in Ireland

1. Know the legal limits: 8 hours per week during term, 35 during holidays.
2. Get written parental permission – the employer must see your birth certificate.
3. Prepare a simple resume highlighting reliability and willingness to learn.
4. Search for light work roles on job boards like Indeed, StudentJob, or local ads.
5. Apply directly – many employers prefer to hire teens who show initiative.

What jobs can I get at 15 in Ireland?

Typical job types for 15-year-olds in Ireland include retail assistant, waiter, cleaner, and animal care assistant, as listed on Indeed (job board) and StudentJob.ie (student job platform). Summer jobs are available for 15 year olds in Dublin, and part-time jobs for under-16s are also listed on Jooble (aggregator).

What jobs are available for 15 year olds in Dublin?

In Dublin, common roles include retail assistant in shops like SuperValu or Dunnes Stores (though many require 16), waitering in cafes, and cleaning roles in hotels. A search on Indeed for Dublin shows positions in fast food, retail, and hospitality.

What jobs are available for 15 year olds in Cork?

Cork offers similar opportunities: part-time roles in retail, cafes, and animal care. Local notice boards and sites like StudentJob.ie Cork list positions for teens.

What jobs are available for 15 year olds with no experience?

Entry-level jobs like cleaning, gardening, dog walking, and junior retail assistant are ideal for a 15-year-old with no experience. Many employers value reliability and willingness to learn over prior work history, as noted by Understood.org (parenting and education resource).

For 15-year-olds in Ireland, the legal limits on hours mean that even with the best job, earnings are capped at around €250 per week during holidays. Focus on gaining experience rather than high pay.

What job is best for a 15 year old?

Three factors — ease of finding, pay, and happiness — help decide. Here’s a comparison of common jobs for 15-year-olds in Ireland.

The implication: For a 15-year-old, waitering or gardening offer the best mix of ease, pay, and happiness. Cleaner roles are easy to find but may not be as fulfilling.

What is the easiest job to get at 15?

According to Understood.org (parenting and education resource), the easiest jobs for teens are those with low barriers to entry: cleaning, babysitting, dog walking, and retail assistant with no experience required. In Ireland, cleaning roles in hotels or offices are often available through local ads.

What is the #1 happiest job?

While not specific to 15-year-olds, surveys often rank jobs involving animals or creative work as happiest. For a teen, animal care assistant or dog walker tends to score high on satisfaction, though pay may be lower.

Do SuperValu hire 15 year olds?

SuperValu typically requires employees to be 16 or older, according to general hiring practices. While their official policy varies by franchise, most SuperValu stores in Ireland set the minimum age at 16, consistent with the WRC guidance that full-time work is not allowed for under-16s. Other major employers like Tesco and Dunnes Stores may have different age requirements; Tesco Ireland typically hires at 16, while Dunnes Stores sometimes considers 15-year-olds for part-time roles.

What is the hiring age at SuperValu Ireland?

Based on employee reports and job listings, SuperValu’s hiring age is 16 for most positions. Some franchise stores may offer light work to 15-year-olds under a licence, but this is rare. Always check with your local store directly.

How to make $1000 a week as a teen?

For a 15-year-old in Ireland, making $1,000 a week (about €930) is unrealistic due to legal hour limits. At 8 hours per week during term time, earning €7.14/hour yields only €57. Even during holidays at 35 hours, the maximum weekly wage is about €250. To reach $1,000, a teen would need to work illegally or in very high-paying gigs – not advisable. Instead, focus on realistic earnings of €50–€200 per week and build skills for the future.

What is the #1 happiest job?

Repeat: For teens, animal care or creative roles often lead to higher satisfaction, but pay is modest. The trade-off between happiness and earnings is real.

The pattern: unrealistic earnings claims usually signal trouble. Trust the legal limits.

“Children aged 14 and 15 cannot be employed in regular full-time jobs.”

— Citizens Information (government guidance)

“Fourteen- and 15-year-olds may be employed only on light work in specific circumstances.”

— Workplace Relations Commission (regulator)

For a 15-year-old in Ireland, the path to a first job is narrow but clear: stick to light work, respect the 8-hour term limit, and start with local ads or job boards. The choice is simple — follow the rules and gain experience, or risk losing both the job and your rights.

For a detailed breakdown of the legal requirements and top opportunities, check out legal rules and best jobs for 15-year-olds in Ireland.

Frequently asked questions