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 Merced Times publication area submitted 82 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 95.1%.
The Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings in the Merced Times publication area during 2024, with 32 petitions (39% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 27 petitions (32.9% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector during 2024, Episdata, Inc. stood out with five petitions and an approval rate of 80%, followed by Rey Consultants, LLC with four petitions and an approval rate of 75%.
Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector in the Merced Times publication area saw a 22.2% 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 | 32 | 39% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 27 | 32.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 13.4% | 72.7% | 27.3% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 6 | 7.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 1.2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister School District | Educational Services | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| Golden Valley Health Centers | Health Care and Social Assistance | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| Valley Childrens Specialty Medical | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Episdata, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 80% | 20% |
| San Benito Health Foundation | 5 | 80% | 20% | |
| Rey Consultants, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Zeroavia US | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Camarena Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Dignity Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Valley Childrens Primary Care Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Karthikeya Devireddy Inc., M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| TMC Resort, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Stiebs, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sensient Natural Ingredients, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| San Benito Healthcare District | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| QB Technician Infosystems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Merced Community College District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Madera Unified School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kagome, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Golden Valley Engineering and Surv | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Central Valley Cardiovascular Medi | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Alpha Teknova, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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