Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the Jefferson City News publication area submitted 40 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 92.5%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 25 petitions, representing 62.5% of all submissions in the Jefferson City News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 10 petitions and represented 25% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, all were approved.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Health Care and Social Assistance sector during 2024, Fulton State Hospital Constituent Agency of the Missouri Department of Mental Health stood out with two petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by Riyan Dental, LLC with one petition and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the Jefferson City News publication area saw a 62.5% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 62.5% | 88% | 12% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 10 | 25% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 7.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Public Administration | 1 | 2.5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satya Soft Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15 | 80% | 20% |
| Lincoln University of Missouri | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Information Resource Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Learfield Communications, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Fulton State Hospital Constituent Agency of the Missouri Department of Mental Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Riyan Dental, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Westminster College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Object Source, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center Div of Missouri Department of Mental Health | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tiger Analytics, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Westminister College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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