Labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking when a person uses control and manipulation to get labor, work or services from the victim and the victim believes they are unable to leave or stop. Labor trafficking is not human smuggling and does not require crossing state or international borders. Learn about Minnesota laws on labor trafficking.

Most common labor trafficking job types

You can help combat labor trafficking by reporting it when you see it. Labor trafficking has been observed in the following job types or places (but may be present in any industry): 

• Agriculture, food processing 
• Construction, landscaping 
• Home health care, childcare 
• Housekeeping 
• Massage, hair braiding, nail salons 
• Restaurants, hotels/resorts 
• Door-to-door sales 
• Carnivals, amusement parks 
• Illegal activities: theft, drug trafficking, sex trafficking 
• Panhandling 

If you suspect labor trafficking, always report it. It’s okay to be wrong. 

Report suspected human trafficking

• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of being trafficked, call 911.
• To report a suspected human trafficking situation, call the BCA at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

Another option for reporting suspected human trafficking is the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 888-373-7888.

Victim survivor resources

You can get resources and information on our resources for human trafficking victim survivors’ page.

More information about labor trafficking 

• Learn about some of the myths and truths of trafficking.
• Learn about how traffickers control their victims.
• The Polaris Project provides human trafficking data and operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
• Go to the Minnesota Crime Data Explorer to get labor trafficking data in our state.