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 St. Paul Reporter publication area submitted 240 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.3%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in the St. Paul Reporter publication area during 2024, with 103 petitions (42.9% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 99%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 52 petitions (21.7% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024, Intermediate School District 917 D stood out with nine petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by New Century School with seven petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the St. Paul Reporter publication area saw a 92.6% 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 | 103 | 42.9% | 99% | 1% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 52 | 21.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Utilities | 39 | 16.3% | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 23 | 9.6% | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 8 | 3.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 2.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Information | 1 | 0.4% | 0% | 100% |
| 8 | Construction | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagitec Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 65 | 100% | 0% |
| Ecolab USA, Inc. | Utilities | 29 | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| Nihilent, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| University of St. Thomas | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| New Century School | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Intermediate School District 917 D | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Metro Social Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Macalester College | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Ecolab, Inc. | Utilities | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Academia Cesar Chavez Charter Scho | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Minnesota State University Mankato | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Community School of Excellence | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Lovingcare Nursing and Home Care S | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Latino Economic Development Center | Finance and Insurance, Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Fortude, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Fairview Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Nalco Company, LLC | Utilities | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Novel Energy Solutions, LLC | Utilities | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pace Analytical Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Community Action Partnership | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Saint Paul Public Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Sejong Academy of Minnesota | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Contreras Edin Law PA | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Horton, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Zepto Life Technology, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Good Kids Education, LLC | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Frontline Biotechnologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Ever-Green Energy, Inc. | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Blaze Credit Union | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| West Side Community Health Service | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ocotillo Technology Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wallin Education Partners | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Progressive Individual Resources | Information | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Ramsey County | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Reconserve of MN, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Regulatory Technology Services | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Augeo Affinity Marketing, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Amherst H Wilder Foundation | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sentera, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Talent Technical Services | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Trustees of the Hamline University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tena Companies, Inc. | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Emorphes Professional Services, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| First Lutheran Church | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dessert Holdings, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Goodwill Easter Seals MN | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Highcloud Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Integrated Health Group | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| KFI Engineers, PC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Consulting Engineers Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lightwave Photonics, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lovingcare Nursing and Homecare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Commonbond Housing | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mami Minnesota | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Metro Deaf School, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Metro Social Service, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Colder Products Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Codeweavers, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mom Brands Company, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| BWBR Architects, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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