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 Berkeley Leader publication area submitted 133 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 75.9%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in the Berkeley Leader publication area during 2024, with 66 petitions (49.6% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 51.5%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 36 petitions (27.1% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
The Berkeley Leader publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector during 2024 included NK Technolabs, LLC, which filed 36 petitions with an approval rate of 30.6%, NK Technolabs, LLC with 23 petitions and an approval rate of 69.6%, and Blackbaud, Inc., which filed four petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector in the Berkeley Leader publication area saw a 17.9% 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 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 66 | 49.6% | 51.5% | 48.5% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 36 | 27.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 27 | 20.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Information | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NK Technolabs, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 59 | 45.8% | 54.2% |
| Dorchester School District Two | Educational Services | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| Volvo Car USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC | Manufacturing | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Blackbaud, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Nucor Corporation Nucor Steel Bran | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Sundaram Clayton USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Benefitfocus Com, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Ifa Rotorion - North America, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nexans High Voltage USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Civil Services International D B a Argano, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nucor Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Crunchy Data Solutions, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Johns Christian Academy | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Charleston Turbine Management, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunny Benefits, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| THG, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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