Suffolk County Labor Department to host 4th annual Youth Job Fair on Thursday evening

As the official start of summer approaches, employers have partnered with Suffolk County for its fourth annual Youth Job Fair on Thursday evening in Hauppauge in hopes of filling seasonal and part-time roles.

The job fair, which is scheduled to feature over 60 employers, is geared toward younger Islanders looking for part-time, full-time, seasonal, internship, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

The event runs from 4-7 p.m. in the IBEW Local 25 offices at 370 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy. in Hauppauge.

Employers scheduled to attend the fair include National Grid, Uncle Giuseppe’s and Winters Bros.

Although aimed at younger job seekers in high school and college, the hiring event is open to all. Attendees are encouraged to bring multiple resume copies.

The job fair, started in 2021, is part of a legislative initiative started by Legis. Jason A. Richberg (D-West Babylon) that marks the third week in May as Youth Week.

“Our young people are a valued resource in our communities,” Richberg said. “If they want to work and they have the ability to work … then we should be able to get them the opportunities to work.”

One local employer said hiring events like the Youth Job Fair were invaluable in helping them staff up for the summer.

“Just about a month before the summer program starts that’s when we really start to go through applications and interviews,” said Zuleyma Reyes, community wellness specialist at Youth Enrichment Services, which runs a day camp for children during the summer and will be attending Thursday’s job fair.

Reyes said the organization was looking to hire from 50 to 80 teens to assist in counseling duties this year. “We’re always hiring,” Reyes said.