Orange County plans job fair for workers age 60 and older

Orange County will hold a Senior Job Fair at Mulberry House Senior Center in Middletown, bringing together employers and job seekers age 60 and older from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 8 at 70 West Main Street. It is for people looking for part-time, full-time or flexible work.

Orange County Employment & Training Administration and the Orange County Office for the Aging sponsor the fair. County Executive Steve Neuhaus said the goal is to help older adults explore new opportunities, re-enter the workforce or move into jobs that better fit their experience and lifestyle. The event is designed to connect mature and experienced workers with local employers who value skills, reliability and judgment.

Employers on the roster include Abilities First, Adapt of the Hudson Valley, All Care Home Health Services, Always Compassionate Home Care, Any-Time Home Care, Attending Home Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, First Choice Senior Services, FST Broadcasting Corp. doing business as WTBQ Radio, Greystone Programs, Mechanical Rubber Products, Mental Health Association of Orange County, New York Health Care, Orange County Department of Human Resources, People Ready, ShopRite Supermarkets and Student Transportation of America.

In 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts labor-force participation for Americans age 65 and older at 19.1 percent, up from 12.9 percent in 2000 and close to the 20.2 percent peak in 2019. Participation was 23.1 percent for men age 65 and older and 15.7 percent for women in that same year.

The Employment & Training Administration provides resources and services to job seekers and businesses, while Orange Works helps local employers find employees and offers training and labor-market information. The federal Senior Community Service Employment Program is a work-based job training program for older Americans authorized by the Older Americans Act. Orange County held a countywide job fair on February 27, 2025, at the Orange County Career Center in Middletown. The July event is for older job seekers and employers trying to hire them.