Tucson Youth Hiring Event Sept. 16: Ages 16-24

Published: September 7, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team

TUCSON, AZ — Landing a first job in the Old Pueblo usually means firing applications into the void and waiting. On Wednesday, September 16, the Pima County Youth One-Stop is flipping that around: more than 20 employers and resource organizations will be at the El Pueblo Activity Center on Irvington Road, ready to talk to job seekers between the ages of 16 and 24.

Two hours, south side, no cost, and the flyer is blunt about one thing — you may be interviewed on the spot.

In a hurry? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →

📅 The Event at a Glance

What: Youth Hiring Event, hosted by the Pima County Youth One-Stop
When: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Where: El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, Building #9, Tucson, AZ 85714
Who it's for: Job seekers ages 16 to 24
Cost: No cost to attend
Questions: 520-724-9649

Why This One Is Worth the Bus Ride

Most hiring events in Tucson are built for people with a work history. This one is built for people who don't have much of one yet. The Youth One-Stop recruited employers specifically because they hire in the 16-to-24 range, which means nobody in that room is going to slide your application to the bottom of the pile because you graduated in May.

The location helps too. El Pueblo sits at Sixth Avenue and Irvington, right next to the Laos Transit Center. If you're 16 and don't have a car yet, that matters more than anything else on the flyer. You can get there on a bus and get home on a bus.

The window is short, though. Three to five in the afternoon is two hours total, and with 20-plus tables in the room, showing up at 4:50 means you talk to two employers instead of eight. Get there close to 3:00.

💼 Who Shows Up to Youth Hiring Events in Tucson

Pima County hasn't published the employer roster for this event, so treat the list below as the fields that typically staff these rooms rather than a confirmed lineup. In Tucson, employers who hire in the 16-to-24 bracket usually come from:

Retail and grocery — cashiers, stock associates, sales floor. See our Tucson cashier careers guide.
Restaurants and fast food — crew members, hosts, dishwashers, prep. Start with the crew member guide.
Coffee shops — barista roles are a classic Tucson first job. See barista careers.
Call centers and customer service — often the highest starting pay available to an 18-year-old with no degree. See customer service careers.
Warehouse and distribution — peak season crews build out in the fall. See warehouse associate careers.
Youth programs, nonprofits and public agencies — the "resource organizations" half of the room, offering training, GED support, and paid work experience rather than a job posting.

That second category is easy to walk past and shouldn't be. WIOA-funded youth programs can cover training costs, certifications, and in some cases paid work experience. If you don't leave with a job, you can still leave enrolled in something that pays for a credential.

How to Not Waste Your Two Hours

The county's flyer includes its own prep list, and it's worth following:

Dress like the job. Neat and clean. Go light on cologne, jewelry and makeup, and the flyer specifically asks that facial piercings and tattoos not be on display.
Bring a resume. If you don't have one, the Youth One-Stop runs a Thursday resume workshop — call 520-724-9649 and sign up before the 16th.
Bring your details. Names, addresses and phone numbers for past employers, schools and references. You cannot fill out an application from memory, and half the room will try.
Expect an interview. Have a 30-second answer ready for "tell me about yourself," and say it out loud a few times before you go.
Know your availability. If you're in school, know exactly which afternoons and weekends you can work before an employer asks.

Computers will be available on site and staff will be there to help, so a missing resume is a fixable problem, not a reason to skip it. Auxiliary aids and services are available on request for attendees with disabilities.

A Note for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

Arizona limits the hours minors can work and restricts certain hazardous occupations, and those rules tighten while school is in session. Employers at the event will know their own limits, but it's worth reading up before you go so you can tell whether a schedule they float actually works. The Industrial Commission of Arizona publishes the state's youth employment rules, and federal rules apply on top of them.

Bring proof of age and identification, and if you're under 18, be ready for a parent or guardian to sign paperwork after an offer.

🔎 Search Jobs Now

Don't wait until the 16th. Start applying today, then use the event to put a face to the applications you've already sent:

What It Means for Young Job Seekers

September is a good month to be 17 and looking. Tucson retailers and carriers start building holiday crews now, restaurants staff up for the winter visitor season, and school-year schedules mean employers actively want people who can cover afternoons and weekends. A room with 20-plus employers who have already said they hire your age group is a shortcut past the part of a job search that grinds people down.

Create a free TucsonHIRED account and turn on job alerts so new Tucson openings reach you between events. Then work through the TucsonHIRED Career Center for role-by-role guides on what these jobs actually pay and what they ask for.

Employers: if you hire in the 16-to-24 range and you're not at this event, you're still competing for the same people. Post your openings on TucsonHIRED and reach Tucson job seekers every day, not just for two hours on a Wednesday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register for the Tucson Youth Hiring Event?

The county's flyer doesn't list a registration requirement, and One-Stop hiring events are generally open to walk-ins. If you want to be certain before you make the trip, call 520-724-9649.

How much does it cost to attend?

Nothing. Programs administered by the ARIZONA@WORK Pima County One-Stop are fully funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, so there's no charge to job seekers.

I'm 25. Can I still go?

This particular event is built for ages 16 to 24. If you're outside that range, check our Fall 2026 Tucson job fairs guide for events open to everyone.

Where exactly is Building #9?

The El Pueblo Activity Center complex is at 101 W. Irvington Road, at Sixth Avenue, next to the Laos Transit Center. Building #9 is inside that complex. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find it.

What if I've never had a job before?

That's who this event is for. List school activities, sports, volunteering, family responsibilities and any informal work you've done. Employers hiring at the entry level are looking for reliability and attitude, not a resume with five years on it.

Which employers will be there?

Pima County hasn't released the roster. The flyer confirms more than 20 employers and resource organizations. Call 520-724-9649 closer to the date if you want to know before you go.

Youth Hiring Event Tucson Sept. 16: 20+ Employers Hiring Ages 16-24