Of these, 875 were approved (99.4%), while five were denied (0.6%).
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, Michigan employers across all industries submitted 11,688 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.2%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 6,020 petitions, representing 51.5% of all submissions in Michigan during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for 3,213 petitions and represented 27.5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, 5,865 were approved and 155 were denied.
The Michigan employers which made the most petitions in the Educational Services sector during 2024 included University of Michigan with 480 petitions, Michigan State University with 140 petitions, and Wayne State University with 59 petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in Michigan saw a 6.8% 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 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,020 | 51.5% | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 3,213 | 27.5% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 880 | 7.5% | 99.4% | 0.6% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 463 | 4% | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 417 | 3.6% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| 6 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 320 | 2.7% | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 97 | 0.8% | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 8 | Information | 77 | 0.7% | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 9 | Construction | 37 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Accommodation and Food Services | 34 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Retail Trade | 29 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 24 | 0.2% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 13 | Utilities | 23 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Public Administration | 15 | 0.1% | 80% | 20% |
| 15 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 14 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 14 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Transportation and Warehousing | 10 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Educational Services Industry in Michigan, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan | 480 | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 2 | Michigan State University | 140 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Wayne State University | 59 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Michigan Technological University | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Western Michigan University | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Oakland University | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Central Michigan University | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | New Paradigm for Education, Inc. | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Andrews University | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | University of Detroit Mercy | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Hope College | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Calvin University | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M D School of Medicine | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Kalamazoo College | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Project Advisors International, PAC | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Global Educational Excellence, LLC | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Northern Michigan University | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Grand Haven Christian School | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Lawrence Technological University | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Grandville Calvin Christian School | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Ferris State University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Project Advisors International Ltd., PAC | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Grand Rapids Christian School Association | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Eastern Michigan University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | MM1, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Lake Superior State University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Greenville Public Schools | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Kettering University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | College for Creative Studies | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Kalamazoo Public Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Forest Hills Public Schools | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 30 | Sacred Heart Major Seminary | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Board of Educational Hillsdale Company District 12 CA | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Cleary University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Avondale School District | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Living Stones Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Muskegon Christian School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | The Society for Christian Instruct | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Kalamazoo Christian School Associa | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Education Management and Network E | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Ann Arbor Christian School Association | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Western Michigan Christian High School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Lewis College of Business | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Central Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Monroe County Community College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | West Shore Community College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Grosse Pointe Public Schools System | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Detroit Ringo Kai | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Allegan Public Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Frontier International Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Brighton Area Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Ming Chuan University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Davenport University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Northpointe Christian Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Fremont Christian School Society | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | School District of the City of River Rouge | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Board of Education Midland County | 1 | 100% | 0% |