Governor Hochul Announces 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 150 businesses offering 8,300 opportunities are expected to attend and offer on-site job interviews with company representatives. Job seekers can also take advantage of resume reviews and a professional photobooth to supply job seekers with headshots. The New York State Department of Labor is also holding a series of no-cost workshops to help job seekers prepare ahead of the event. The event, co-sponsored by the Office of the Chief Disability Officer and the Office of General Services, is free for job seekers and participating businesses.

"We are thrilled to welcome New York job seekers back to Empire State Plaza for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair and help match our highly skilled workforce with the businesses driving our state’s economy,” Governor Hochul said. "I encourage all job seekers to visit the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair and take advantage of the many resources provided by the New York State Department of Labor to accelerate their job search.”

Participants are encouraged to dress professionally and bring several copies of their resumes. Businesses expected to hire include:

• New York State Office of General Services
• New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
• Albany Medical Center
• Thruway Authority
• FedEx
• City of Albany
• U.S. Postal Service
• Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarkets
• The Arc of Rensselaer County
• Sunmark Credit Union
• New York State Information Technology Services

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “If you are looking for a job or thinking of changing careers, now is the time to make the move. This annual career fair has helped hundreds of New Yorkers of all levels of experience find exciting new careers. I encourage job seekers to take advantage of our free workshops to stand out from the competition, we can help you find a career you will love.”

Chief Disability Officer of New York State Kimberly Hill Ridley said, “We are thrilled to be co-sponsoring this important event with our colleagues at the Department of Labor who have been amazing partners since our office was created just over a year ago. I strongly encourage New Yorkers with disabilities who are seeking employment to attend this very robust career fair. Governor Hochul identified improving the employment rate of people with disabilities as a top priority of our office. Participating in the very inclusive career fairs that NYSDOL hosts is one-way prospective employees with disabilities can easily access employers eager to hire disabled individuals.”

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “The Office of General Services is excited to join with our partners in state government to host the 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair. We welcome job seekers to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, where they will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with employers and learn about the diverse array of employment and training opportunities that are available.”

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “As graduation ceremonies near across SUNY, we are excited about the opportunities emerging for our students. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair brings together businesses and agencies to find the right candidates and sign them on the spot—so SUNY’s soon-to-be graduates can launch careers with the high-quality education they earned from our campuses. My thanks to Governor Hochul, our partners at New York State Department of Labor, the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office of General Services, and the 150 agencies and businesses joining together to connect New Yorkers to fulfilling careers.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) will provide free shuttle service to career fair attendees. The shuttle will leave every 15 minutes from 10am to 4pm at the Lincoln Park Pool House and drop off job seekers at the Madison Avenue entrance to the Empire State Plaza.

CDTA CEO Carm Basile said, “We are proud to once again partner on the MLK Career Fair. Connecting our community to opportunities like this is what keeps our region prospering and moving forward. We hope job seekers will take advantage of this convenient, free service and find the job that’s right for them.”

In January 2022, Governor Hochul signed a proclamation recommitting New York State to uphold the values of freedom, justice, equity, and peace championed by Dr. King. As part of that renewed commitment, New York State has hosted a series of events honoring the life and work of Dr. King, including an annual memorial observance and film production, book drives, food drives, and the launch of a student art and essay exhibit at Empire State Plaza and the “Progress to Power” Capitol exhibit about New York’s first Black legislators. The Dr. King Career Fair is one of the most widely attended events in the region.

Those who wish to attend the fair are encouraged to register online. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible.

NYSDOL regularly hosts virtual career fairs and customized recruitment events, serving nearly thousands of businesses and job seekers across New York State. To learn more, visit labor.ny.gov.