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 Sioux Empire Today publication area submitted 718 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.1%.
While the Finance and Insurance industry led the H-1B filings with 427 petitions, representing 59.5% of all submissions in the Sioux Empire Today publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for 182 petitions and represented 25.3% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, 94% were approved and 6% were denied.
The Sioux Empire Today publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which filed 16 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Sanford School of Medicine of the with 12 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Augustana University, which filed six petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the Sioux Empire Today publication area saw a 20.7% 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 | Finance and Insurance | 427 | 59.5% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 182 | 25.3% | 94% | 6% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 35 | 4.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 27 | 3.8% | 96.3% | 3.7% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 7 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Information | 3 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.1% | 0% | 100% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank, N A | Finance and Insurance | 432 | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| Sanford Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 50 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford | Health Care and Social Assistance | 43 | 81.4% | 18.6% |
| Sanford Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 30 | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| Avera Mckennan | Health Care and Social Assistance | 23 | 91.3% | 8.7% |
| Ultimus Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Educational Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Wells Fargo Bank, NA | Finance and Insurance | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford School of Medicine of the | Educational Services | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford Clinic North | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford Medical Center Fargo | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford Bismarck | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Augustana University | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Raven Applied Technologies, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Resource Infosoft, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 80% | 20% |
| Sanford Research | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Premier Bankcard, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Experity, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford Health of Northern Minneso | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Midcontinent Communications | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Sonifi Solutions, Inc. | Manufacturing, Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Capital Card Services, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Otter Audits, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Omnitech, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sanford Health Plan | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| JDS Industries, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Horizon Health Care, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sencore, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sioux Falls School District 49 5 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Carroll Institute | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Avera Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Adams Thermal Systems, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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