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 Gastonia Times publication area submitted 37 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 75.7%.
While the Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings with 20 petitions, representing 54.1% of all submissions in the Gastonia Times publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for seven petitions and represented 18.9% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, all were approved.
In 2024, the Gastonia Times publication area employer with the most petitions categorized under the Manufacturing sector was Stabilus, Inc., which filed three petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the Gastonia Times publication area saw a 40% 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 20 | 54.1% | 60% | 40% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 7 | 18.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 3 | 8.1% | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 8.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Wholesale Trade | 3 | 8.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.7% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehab, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 57.9% | 42.1% |
| Stabilus, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Ifab, Corp. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Lincoln Charter School, Inc. | Educational Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Mann and Hummel Filtration Technol | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Vallen Distribution, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Aspire Carolinas Foundation, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Londry & Modlin IV PLLC, D.D.S. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| LTS Research Laboratories, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mann Hummel Purolator Filters, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mcilveen, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Piedmont Community Charter School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Stewart Cooper Newell Architects PA | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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