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 Macon Times publication area submitted 94 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 94.7%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 65 petitions, representing 69.1% of all submissions in the Macon Times publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for 17 petitions and represented 18.1% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, 88.2% were approved and 11.8% were denied.
In 2024, the Macon Times publication area employer with the most petitions categorized under the Health Care and Social Assistance sector was Health Services of Central Georgia, which filed four petitions with an approval rate of 75%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the Macon Times publication area saw a 22.2% 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 | 65 | 69.1% | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 17 | 18.1% | 88.2% | 11.8% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 7.4% | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 3 | 3.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Construction | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bibb County School District | Educational Services | 40 | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| Blue Bird Body Company | Manufacturing | 15 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| Mercer University | Educational Services | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Georgia College & State University | Educational Services | 7 | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| Health Services of Central Georgia | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Fort Valley State University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Serena Wholesale, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Cogent Healthcare of Macon, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Community Rehabilitation Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Freudenberg Texbond LP | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Idle Hour Club, Inc. | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kumho Tire Georgia, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kunj Construction USA, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Middle Georgia State University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunrise Wholesale, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Medical Center of Central Geor | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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