Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
All of the petitions submitted in the period were approved.
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%, higher than 2023's 97.3%. Statewide, Washington employers across all industries submitted 9,844 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.4%.
While the Information industry led the H-1B filings with 5,721 petitions, representing 58.1% of all submissions in Washington during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, which accounted for 1,955 petitions and represented 19.9% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, 5,665 were approved and 56 were denied.
The Washington employers which made the most petitions in the Utilities sector during 2024 included Puget Sound Energy, Inc. with 13 petitions and Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County with two petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Utilities sector in Washington saw a 15.8% 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 | Information | 5,721 | 58.1% | 99% | 1% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,955 | 19.9% | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 466 | 4.7% | 94% | 6% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 379 | 3.9% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 5 | Educational Services | 362 | 3.7% | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 343 | 3.5% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 7 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 159 | 1.6% | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| 8 | Finance and Insurance | 153 | 1.6% | 99.4% | 0.7% |
| 9 | Wholesale Trade | 69 | 0.7% | 98.6% | 1.5% |
| 10 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 59 | 0.6% | 93.2% | 6.8% |
| 11 | Public Administration | 36 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Construction | 36 | 0.4% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| 13 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 32 | 0.3% | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| 14 | Transportation and Warehousing | 28 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Utilities | 16 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Accommodation and Food Services | 11 | 0.1% | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 17 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Utilities Industry in Washington, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puget Sound Energy, Inc. | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Ge Renewable Grid, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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