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 Capital District Times publication area submitted 405 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.3%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 208 petitions, representing 51.4% of all submissions in the Capital District Times publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 80 petitions and represented 19.8% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, 98.8% were approved and 1.2% were denied.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector during 2024, Panha Solutions, Inc. stood out with 17 petitions and an approval rate of 88.2%, followed by Research Foundation for the State with 15 petitions and an approval rate of 93.3%.
Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector in the Capital District Times publication area saw an 18.1% 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 | 208 | 51.4% | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 80 | 19.8% | 98.8% | 1.3% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 39 | 9.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Utilities | 31 | 7.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 14 | 3.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 12 | 3% | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 7 | Public Administration | 4 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Retail Trade | 4 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Construction | 3 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Information | 3 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Educational Services | 32 | 100% | 0% |
| New York Independent System Operat | Utilities | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| Sligo Software Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| Curia Global, Inc. | Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 18 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| Albany Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| Research Foundation for the State | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 18 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| Panha Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17 | 88.2% | 11.8% |
| State University of New York at Bu | Educational Services | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| CHA Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Health Research, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| Wafts Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Vassar Brothers Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Atec Group | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Knowledge Builders, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany Medical College | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Marys Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Capital District Physicians Health Plan, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Bestpegasus, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Plug Power, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Green Action Studio, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Atlantis It Consulting Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Ryali Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Siena College | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Union College | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Research Foundation for Mental Hyg | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Technology Professionals Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Bits and Bytes Technology Solution | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Atom Finance, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| American National Group Services L | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Hysphere, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Green Technician Charter School | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| State University of New York at Buffalo | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Regenerative Research Foundation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Project P Holdings, LLC | Retail Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pride and Joy International, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mir Scientific, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Momentive Performance Materials US | Manufacturing | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| MVP Consulting Plus, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| New York Ehealth Collaborative | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Nuvalence, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District | Educational Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Currier Mccabe Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Distributed Solar Development, LLC | Construction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Peter S Health Partners Medical Associates, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Excelsior University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Xchangeworx, Inc. | Public Administration | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Genesys Consulting Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Salderz, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Tonoga, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Philips Medical Systems Mr, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Universal Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Utech Products, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tel Technology Center America, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Polymorph Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tejharsh, Inc. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| North Colonie Central School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Staffing Solutions Organization, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Qualisoft Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Redburn Infrastructure, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Staffez Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| SSG Global D B a Sierra Solutions Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| South Col Engineering, P C | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Research Foundation of Suny at Buffalo | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RSV Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Schonwetter Enterprises, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Schenectady City School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Envirospec Engineering, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Environmental Advocates NY, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Empirean, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ellis Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dumbstruck, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cyber Castellum Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| County of Albany Albany County | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cooperative Extension Association | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Commercial Lending Advisors, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Commerce Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bela Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Alpha Technician Systems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany Leadership Charter High School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany Law School of Union University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Hea | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Accord Software, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Academy of the Holy Names | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Nyserda | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| New York State Energy Research and | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Myforest Foods Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| MVP Service, Corp. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| MVP Service D B a MVP Health, Corp. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Marras Pharma D B a Marras Pharmacy, Corp. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Malaya Services Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Latham Pool Products, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Laberge Engineering and Consulting | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kings Celia Home and Park Improvements Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| James Mcguinness and Associates in | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Integraled, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Infoed International, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Indus, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hyman Hayes Associates Architects | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Housing Trust Fund, Corp. | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hoosac School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Green Room Physical Therapy, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fund Solutions LLC, GP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Firstlight Fiber, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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