Of these, 83 were approved (94.3%), while five were denied (5.7%).
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, Massachusetts employers across all industries submitted 16,232 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.8%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in Massachusetts during 2024, with 6,451 petitions (39.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 97.6%. Meanwhile, the Finance and Insurance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 2,928 petitions (18% of the total), with an approval rate of 98.8%.
The Massachusetts employers which made the most petitions in the Other Services (except Public Administration) sector during 2024 included The Home for Little Wanderers with 24 petitions, Oxfam America, Inc. with 11 petitions, and Education Development Center with five petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Other Services (except Public Administration) sector in Massachusetts saw a 2.3% 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 | 6,451 | 39.7% | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2 | Finance and Insurance | 2,928 | 18% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,738 | 10.7% | 95.9% | 4.1% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 1,585 | 9.8% | 99.1% | 1% |
| 5 | Educational Services | 1,199 | 7.4% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 6 | Information | 1,071 | 6.6% | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| 7 | Retail Trade | 420 | 2.6% | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 229 | 1.4% | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 9 | Public Administration | 98 | 0.6% | 98% | 2% |
| 10 | Utilities | 91 | 0.6% | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| 11 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 88 | 0.5% | 94.3% | 5.7% |
| 12 | Construction | 86 | 0.5% | 96.5% | 3.5% |
| 13 | Wholesale Trade | 70 | 0.4% | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 14 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 45 | 0.3% | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 14 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 45 | 0.3% | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 16 | Transportation and Warehousing | 32 | 0.2% | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 17 | Accommodation and Food Services | 27 | 0.2% | 85.2% | 14.8% |
| 18 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 22 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 4 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Other Services (except Public Administration) Industry in Massachusetts, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Home for Little Wanderers | 24 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 2 | Oxfam America, Inc. | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Education Development Center | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Asian American Civic Association | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Human Services Research Institute | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Dream Venture Labs, Inc. | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Armenian Cultural Association of America, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Rxsense Holdings, LLC | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Affordable Housing Institute, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bosto | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Brainco, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Ikeda Center for Peace Learning an | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | CRI Foundation, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Re Collective, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Efficiency Forward D B a Desig, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Bebeauty Aesthetics, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | The First Church of Christ Scienti | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Human Services Research Institute, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Community Resources for Justice, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Project Bread - the Walk for Hunge | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Efficiency Forward, Inc. | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 13 | The Boys and Girls Club of Worcest | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | The American Ireland Fund | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | HL Eastern, Corp. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Chinatown Community Land Trust, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Ora, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Akamai Technologies, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Hillel Council of New England | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Central Square Business Improvemen | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 13 | National Council for Occupational | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Disability Policy Consortium | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 13 | Global Smile Foundation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Cambridge Center for Chinese Culture, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Unifirst Corporation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Lola Hair Studio, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Desai Foundation | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 13 | RGG Services, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | French Library, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |