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# GRAPHIC: Feds are investigating more cases with child labor violations, data shows
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/feds-are-investigating-more-cases-with-child-labor-violations-data-shows/
- Published: 2023-05-03T06:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-05-03T06:00:00.000Z
- Description: Since 2015, the number of cases has increased by more than 50%.
- Author: Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Meat industry, Data Harvest, National, child labor, TP::Explainer, meatpacking, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

Child labor in the U.S. has made headlines in recent months: a labor department [investigation](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-dol-complaint-about-child-labor-in-meatpacking-plants/) showed about 30 minors who cleaned meatpacking plants overnight, and a bombshell [New York Times story](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/25/us/unaccompanied-migrant-child-workers-exploitation.html?ref=investigatemidwest.org) detailed child laborers across the supply chain.

Along with the anecdotes, [data](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/data/charts/child-labor?ref=investigatemidwest.org) seems to support a trend: Over the past several years, the U.S. Department of Labor has recorded more and more cases with child labor violations.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the labor department recorded a high number of cases with child labor violations, but then the figures fell, data shows. But, between 2015 and 2022, the number of cases grew more than 50%.

In summer 2022, in response to the increase, the labor department [announced](https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20220729?ref=investigatemidwest.org) it would step up its enforcement of child labor laws. This included tens of thousands of dollars in penalties.

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