Research on child labor and its developmental effects has made progress over the past two decades as national and international attention has been given to this issue across the globe. The goal to eliminate all of the worst forms of child labor by 2016 and the emerging working children movement are few examples about this progress (Hungerland et al., 2007). In order to actualize all children’s development potential and eliminate all of the worst forms of child labor, research has to emerge in terms of giving children a voice and an outlet to be heard around the world by conducting more scientifically rigorous studies that fulfill current research gaps.

Table 8.2 shows 20 empirical studies that contribute to the current knowledge on developmental effects of child labor. It highlights three research gaps: (1) Research is over-concentrated in developing countries. Only 32.5 % of studies were conducted in developed countries and the majority of studies (67.5 %) were in developing countries. Child labor is not solely a poverty issue or phenomenon that only happens in developing countries. Little has been revealed about health and well-­being of child migrant farm workers in the United States as well as their counterparts in other parts of the world. Furthermore, usually hidden within studies is the number of children who are caring for a physically ill parent/relative or those who are actually caring for siblings because of parents that suffer from alcohol and/or substance abuse or mental illness. (2) Research is dominated by Western concepts and frameworks of child development (Nsamenang, 2010). Few studies challenged universal child rights and universal features of child development, needs, and well-­being. (3) Evidence is overwhelmingly drawn by cross-sectional studies with a lack of longitudinal data to establish the relationship between child labor and child development from a global perspective. The majority of studies (80 %) draw conclusions from cross-sectional data. Among the four longitudinal studies listed, only two were conducted in the United States. These three points provide a new platform for research and policy development that takes a more inclusive perspective for understanding and changing the issues that cause children to participate in various forms of child labor. Ultimately, this approach would move the dialogue from a developing country problem to a more global issue that would benefit us all by increasing children’s opportunity to be children and develop into active and engaging adults.