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 North Country Leader publication area submitted 38 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 94.7%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in the North Country Leader publication area during 2024, with 15 petitions (39.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Manufacturing industry was the second largest contributor, filing 12 petitions (31.6% of the total), with an approval rate of 91.7%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024, St. Lawrence University stood out with six petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by State University of New York at Bu with three petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the North Country Leader publication area saw an 87.5% increase 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 | Educational Services | 15 | 39.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 12 | 31.6% | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 23.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 2.6% | 0% | 100% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 2.6% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Air Brake, LLC | Manufacturing | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Lawrence University | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| State University of New York at Bu | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| State University of New York at Buffalo | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Samaritan Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Gouverneur Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Seaway Pharma, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Camden Central School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Canton Potsdam Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Carthage Area Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| North Country Adult Medicine, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Research Applied Technology Educat | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Targray Industries, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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