Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
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 Licking Today publication area submitted 87 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
The Retail Trade industry led the H-1B filings in the Licking Today publication area during 2024, with 57 petitions (65.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%.
The Licking Today publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Retail Trade sector during 2024 included Mast Technology Services, Inc., which filed 33 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Premium Brands Services, LLC with 12 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Victorias Secret Service Company L, which filed four petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Retail Trade sector in the Licking Today publication area saw an 8.1% 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 | Retail Trade | 57 | 65.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 8 | 9.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 8 | 9.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Utilities | 5 | 5.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 3.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2.3% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mast Technology Services, Inc. | Retail Trade | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| Premium Brands Services, LLC | Retail Trade | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Victorias Secret Service Company L | Retail Trade | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Illuminate USA, LLC | Utilities | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| TS Technician Americas, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Kenyon College | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Victorias Secret Stores Brand Mana | Retail Trade | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Denison University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| The Park National Bank | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Victorias Secret Direct Brand Mana | Retail Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Best Lighting Products, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RG Barry Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hitachi Astemo Americas, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ERP Analysts, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Victoria'S Secret Service Company, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Daifuku Automotive America Corpora | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cyanna Education Services, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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