Question

the matchstick factory refused to appoint a seventeen year old school dropout why​

Answer 1

Answer: because he was 17 year old and 18 and 18+ r allowed to do work by law  

or may be he could get some infection

Answer 2

According to me there can be some reasons like
The boy might be lazy air didn’t do the work properly
The owner of the factory might be afraid of court and police do he obey the laws and didn’t let the boy work as he is of 17 only