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 Kalamazoo Times publication area submitted 96 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.9%.
The Manufacturing industry led the H-1B filings in the Kalamazoo Times publication area during 2024, with 44 petitions (45.8% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 29 petitions (30.2% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
In 2024, the Kalamazoo Times publication area employer with the most petitions categorized under the Manufacturing sector was Stryker Corporation, which filed 32 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the Kalamazoo Times publication area saw a 340% 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 | Manufacturing | 44 | 45.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 29 | 30.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 10.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 7.3% | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Information | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Construction | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stryker Corporation | Manufacturing | 33 | 100% | 0% |
| Western Michigan University | Educational Services | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M D School of Medicine | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Kalamazoo College | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Bronson Methodist Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Landscape Forms, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Kalsec, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mann Hummel USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Singh Automation, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The John E Fetzer Institute, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| W Soule and Company | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Revision Autonomy, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Micro-Lam, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Melttools, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Walker Legal Group, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wightman and Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Ywca Kalamazoo | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Zhang Financial, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| KM Industrial Machinery Company | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Kalamazoo Public Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kalamazoo Christian School Associa | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| J Rettenmaier USA LP | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Innovative Analytics, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Global Clinical Connections, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Forensic Fluids Laboratories, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Family Health Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Engineered Plastic Services, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Drug and Laboratory Disposal, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bronson Health Care Group, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bronson Battle Creek Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Betz Contracting & Machining, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ascension Borgess Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| A1 Physical Therapy, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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