Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
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 Yakima Times publication area submitted 36 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.2%.
While the Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings with 19 petitions, representing 52.8% of all submissions in the Yakima Times publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for nine petitions and represented 25% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, all were approved.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Health Care and Social Assistance sector during 2024, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic stood out with nine petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital as with five petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the Yakima Times publication area saw an 18.8% 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 52.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 9 | 25% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 3 | 8.3% | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 4 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital as | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Central Washington University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Heritage University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Toppenish School District 202 | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Vidisa, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tree Top, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Timber It Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunnyside Community Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeast Washington Aging and Lon | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| J Hamilton Licht PC, M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Irwin Research & Development, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| HSU Tsuchikawa Ghorbanian, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenwood Mushrooms Sunnyside IA L | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Derek Thompson Patrick Ferguson D.D.S. PLLC, D.M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Care Center Toppenish, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Anderson Hay and Grain Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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