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 Interior Alaska News publication area submitted 53 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.1%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 48 petitions, representing 90.6% of all submissions in the Interior Alaska News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for two petitions and represented 3.8% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, all were approved.
The Interior Alaska News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Galena City School District, which filed 23 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, University of Alaska Fairbanks with 15 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Alaska Gateway School District, which filed seven petitions with an approval rate of 85.7%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the Interior Alaska News publication area saw a 140% 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 | Educational Services | 48 | 90.6% | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galena City School District | Educational Services | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Educational Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Alaska Gateway School District | Educational Services | 7 | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| Yukon Flats School District | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Aurora Expeditions, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fairbanks Urology, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Iditarod Area School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pathology Consultants, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The May Clinic, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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