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 SC Midland News publication area submitted 80 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 96.3%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 55 petitions, representing 68.8% of all submissions in the SC Midland News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, which accounted for four petitions and represented 5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, all were approved.
The SC Midland News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Orangeburg County School District, which filed 23 petitions with an approval rate of 91.3%, Lee County School District with 14 petitions and an approval rate of 92.9%, and Calhoun County School District, which filed seven petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the SC Midland News publication area saw a 31.3% 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 | Educational Services | 55 | 68.8% | 94.5% | 5.5% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 5% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Construction | 3 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 2 | 2.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County School District | Educational Services | 27 | 96.3% | 3.7% |
| Orangeburg County School District | Educational Services | 25 | 92% | 8% |
| Calhoun County School District | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Teqsphere, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Hounen Solar America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Claflin University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Thompson Construction Group, Inc. | Construction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| CFE Management, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Clarendon County School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Enviri Corporation Formerly Harsco | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Low Country Pain Center, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Orangeburg HS - Health Professions | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pee Dee Math Science and Technology Academy | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| South Carolina State University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sumter School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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