A tightening labor market has prompted U.S. corporations to seek out cheaper labor options, causing illegal child labor to rise nationwide in turn.
The Department of Labor discovered 4,474 illegally employed minors between October 1, 2022, and July 20, 2023 alone, the agency revealed Thursday.
The agency reportedly levied $6.6 million in fines against companies found in violation of child labor laws throughout this same time period, an 87% increase from the year prior.
As a result of this growing trend, the Department of Labor announced the creation of a new interagency task force focused on addressing child labor violations.
