Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US
What many believe is a thing of the past is in fact an ever-growing crisis, with life and death consequences for children across the US.
In a wave of rollbacks, at least 10 states have passed laws to restrict child labor protections in the last couple of years. Today, children as young as 13 are working grueling jobs that put their health, safety, and development at risk — in meatpacking plants, warehouses, and tobacco fields instead of schools. Migrant children especially are at risk of being exploited. Many arrive in the US without parents or guardians, lacking legal protections or a support system. These children are often funneled into the most dangerous sectors of the labor market, where oversight is weak and accountability is rare. Over the last several years, there have been numerous reports about children being seriously injured or killed working in incredibly dangerous conditions.
In this event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on November 19, 2025 — we explore how we arrived at the current landscape of child labor; what it means in the current context; and how we can protect children moving forward and explore what policymakers, child advocates, and labor advocates can do to address weakening child protections.
This conversation includes opening remarks from Yesenia Cuello (Co-founder, NC Field), followed by a panel discussion with Ron Estrada (Chief Executive Officer, Farmworker Justice), Reid Maki (Director, Child Labor Advocacy, National Consumers League), Nina Mast (State Economic Analyst, Economic Policy Institute), Charlie Wishman (President, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO), and moderator Kristina Cooke (Journalist, Reuters).
This event is part of our Opportunity in America series. For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.
Highlights
For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go. Check out our playlist or click below to watch.
About Opportunity in America
Opportunity in America, an event series hosted by the Economic Opportunities Program, considers the changing landscape of economic opportunity in the US and implications for individuals, families, and communities across the country.
About the Economic Opportunities Program
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
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