What you need to know:

• A free job fair will be held March 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla, featuring 120 employers and some on-the-spot interviews.
• The event is open to all local workers, including teens. Transportation is available from area high schools, but students must coordinate with their school counselor to participate.
• Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring résumés. While employer slots are fully booked, a waiting list is available for businesses still interested in participating.

WASILLA -- A free job fair planned for this month aims to connect Mat-Su residents of all working ages with local employers actively looking to hire.

About 120 Southcentral employers are expected to attend the annual Mat-Su Employer Expo on March 26 at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla, with some conducting on-the-spot interviews. Information will also be available from colleges and vocational programs seeking students. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

[Related: Free job skills program in Wasilla expands to all Mat-Su adults]

The job fair is a partnership between the federally funded state Department of Labor and Workforce Development and local businesses and organizations working to boost employment in the Mat-Su and highlight local career and vocational opportunities, said Amanda Carlson, who manages the department's Anchorage and Mat-Su job centers.

The job fair is free and open to the public, she said. Organizers are also partnering with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District to bus high school students from across Mat-Su to the fair. Students must register with their school counselor and have a parent-signed permission slip to attend.

Carlson said that engaging teen workers is important to support local employment at a time when much of the state is experiencing population loss.

"Half of our students leave Alaska, and most don't come back. We want to keep our locals here if we can," she said.

Job seekers are encouraged to dress professionally and bring paper copies of their resumes, Carlson said. General applications will be available for those who do not have a resume in hand.

Mat-Su residents can prepare for the event by visiting the Mat-Su Job Center, which offers free resources such as resume assistance, job readiness workshops, and typing certifications, officials said. The center, located at 877 W. Commercial Drive in Wasilla, is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event does not currently have space for additional employers, but a waiting list is available for those who have not yet registered, Carlson said. Employers can contact the Mat-Su Job Center at (907) 352-2500 or matsu.jobcenter@alaska.gov for more information.

-- Contact Mat-Su Sentinel at contact@matsusentinel.com.

This story was updated March 19 to reflect that general applications will be available for those who do not have a resume in hand.