Of these, 870 were approved (99.2%), while seven were denied (0.8%).
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, Minnesota employers across all industries submitted 4,510 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.6%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in Minnesota during 2024, with 1,282 petitions (28.4% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 97.3%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 877 petitions (19.5% of the total), with an approval rate of 99.2%.
The Minnesota employers which made the most petitions in the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Mayo Clinic with 393 petitions, University of Minnesota with 186 petitions, and Lakes International Language Acade with 27 petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in Minnesota saw a 3.8% 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 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,282 | 28.4% | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 877 | 19.5% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 3 | Finance and Insurance | 772 | 17.1% | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 718 | 15.9% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 305 | 6.8% | 99% | 1% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 187 | 4.2% | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 7 | Information | 104 | 2.3% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 65 | 1.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Construction | 53 | 1.2% | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 10 | Utilities | 50 | 1.1% | 98% | 2% |
| 11 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 38 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 19 | 0.4% | 94.7% | 5.3% |
| 13 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 10 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 9 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Public Administration | 5 | 0.1% | 80% | 20% |
| 15 | Transportation and Warehousing | 5 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Educational Services Industry in Minnesota, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayo Clinic | 393 | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 2 | University of Minnesota | 186 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 3 | Lakes International Language Acade | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Fridley Public Schools Independent | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Minnesota State University Mankato | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Minneapolis Public Schools | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Southwest Metro Intermediate District 288 | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Strategic Education, Inc. | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | The ISD 622 Education Center D B a | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Yinghua Academy | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Intermediate School District 917 D | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | New Century School | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | University of St. Thomas | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | District 742 Community Schools a K | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Carleton College | 7 | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| 15 | Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Dis | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Independent School District 16 | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Macalester College | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Independent School District 38 Red Lake Public School District | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | St. Olaf College | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Independent School District 270 Hopkins | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Community School of Excellence | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Academia Cesar Chavez Charter Scho | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Saint Johns University | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Rochester Math and Science Academy | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Independent School District 272 D | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Minnetonka Public Schools | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Augsburg University | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 25 | Hennepin Schools | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Cannon Valley Special Education Company | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Project Porsche Holding Corporatio | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Aim Academy of Science and Technol | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 25 | Best Academy a K a Harvest Best Ac | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Sejong Academy of Minnesota | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Good Kids Education, LLC | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Saint Paul Public Schools | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Independent School District No 206 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Independent School District 2752 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Hiawatha Leadership Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Twin Lakes Stem Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Trustees of the Hamline University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Davinci Academy of ARTS and Science | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Athlos Academy of St. Cloud | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Set Academy School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Independent School District No 283 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Gustavus Adolphus College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Lincoln International High School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Independent School District 261 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Crown College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Minnehaha Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Independent School District No 236 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Bold Public Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Stride Academy | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 39 | Liberty Classical Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Academy of Holy Angels | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Fridley Public Schools Independent School District 14 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Bethel University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Lakes International Language Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Independent School District 38 Red | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | College of St. Scholastica, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Metro Deaf School, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Saint Mary'S University of Minnesota | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Star of the North Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | College of Saint Benedict | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Independent School District 282 DB | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Ellsworth School District | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Moorhead Area Public Schools ISD 152 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Beacon Academy Charter School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Kittson County Independent School | 1 | 100% | 0% |