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 Berks County News publication area submitted 228 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.2%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in the Berks County News publication area during 2024, with 81 petitions (35.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.8%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 44 petitions (19.3% of the total), with an approval rate of 97.7%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Other Services (except Public Administration) sector during 2024, Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh stood out with two petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by Allegheny E Conference of 7th-Day Adventists, Corp. with one petition and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Other Services (except Public Administration) sector in the Berks County News publication area saw a 50% 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 | 81 | 35.5% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 44 | 19.3% | 97.7% | 2.3% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 28 | 12.3% | 96.4% | 3.6% |
| 4 | Transportation and Warehousing | 19 | 8.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 10 | 4.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Educational Services | 8 | 3.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Information | 3 | 1.3% | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 9 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Utilities | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penske Truck Leasing Company LP | Transportation and Warehousing | 42 | 100% | 0% |
| STV Incorporated | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32 | 100% | 0% |
| Reading Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 26 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| Enersys Delaware, Inc. | Manufacturing | 20 | 95% | 5% |
| STV Construction, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| Rentokil North America, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Sure Technician Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Phoenixville Hospital, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Sai-Med Partners, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Tower Health Medical Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvani | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Substation Engineering Company | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Alvernia University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Tavas Systems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Sceventory, Inc. | Information | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| STC Pediatrics, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Phoenixville Clinic Company, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Neopart Transit, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Knoll, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The Reading Truck Group, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Stevens & Lee, P C | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Smooth-on, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Giorgi Companies, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ugi Energy Services, LLC | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| West Reading Radiology Associates | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rodale Institute | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Questant, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Prizer-Painter Stove Works, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Orasure Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Navitas, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Navitas Data Sciences | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Milestone Financial Associates, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| John F Conway, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| JC Patel and Associates, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Industrial Metal Platng, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Global Advanced Metals USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| CP and Y D B a STV Infrastruct, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bright Bits, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Brentwood Industries, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Allegheny E Conference of 7th-Day Adventists, Corp. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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