Suffolk County youth job fair in Hauppauge aims to connect teens, employers

Suffolk County teens looking for a first paycheck will have more than 50 employers to meet in Hauppauge, where county officials are steering young job seekers toward summer work, part-time jobs and pre-apprenticeship pathways.

County Executive Ed Romaine said the Department of Labor will host the Youth Job Fair on Wednesday, May 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at IBEW Local 25, 370 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Hauppauge. The fair is targeted to youth ages 14 and up, and parents are welcome to bring resumes. County officials said employers will be recruiting not only for youth-oriented openings, but also for full-time positions and pre-apprenticeship slots.

That mix gives the event a broader reach than a one-night hiring table. For a 14-year-old hoping to land a first summer job, the fair offers a direct introduction to local employers. For older teens and young adults, it can open a path into retail, service work and trades, especially through pre-apprenticeship programs that can lead to longer-term employment.

The county has built the Hauppauge location into a larger workforce hub. Its One-Stop Employment Center there offers job search tools, workshops, job fairs, computer access and on-site interview space for employers and job seekers. The labor department also says it provides training, job development, placement and supportive services to unemployed and underemployed county residents.

Youth programs already operating through the county include an in-school youth work experience program for ages 14 to 21, an out-of-school youth program for ages 16 to 24 and a summer youth employment program designed to give first-time work experience. Career Couture, another county service, provides free business attire to registered job seekers with a confirmed interview, a practical boost for young applicants who may not own interview clothes.

The youth job fair also builds on a growing county effort. Suffolk County Legislature materials say the county completed its fifth annual Suffolk County Youth Week in 2025, and a similar Youth Week job fair at the same Hauppauge address drew more than 500 young job seekers. That event was advertised with 50-plus employers and openings ranging from part-time and seasonal jobs to internships and pre-apprenticeship programs.

Sandra Alfano, a county youth services coordinator, said during coverage of the 2025 fair that it was helping young people find summer jobs, part-time work, internships and both blue-collar and white-collar opportunities. The new fair carries that same message into 2026: in central Suffolk, the county is trying to turn one evening in Hauppauge into a first step toward work experience, steady pay and a stronger foothold in the local economy.