Retail Trade industry employers submit 47 H-1B petitions across Merrimack Valley News publication area in 2024

Employers classified under the Retail Trade industry based within the Merrimack Valley News publication area, submitted 47 H-1B petitions during 2024, according to data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-1B Employer Data Hub. All of these petitions were approved.

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 Merrimack Valley News publication area submitted 1,959 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 96.7%.

While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 1,127 petitions, representing 57.5% of all submissions in the Merrimack Valley News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for 587 petitions and represented 30% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, 98.6% were approved and 1.4% were denied.

Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Retail Trade sector during 2024, BJS Wholesale Club, Inc. stood out with 26 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by BJS Wholesale Club, Inc. with 16 petitions and an approval rate of 100%.

Compared to 2023, the Retail Trade sector in the Merrimack Valley News publication area saw a 2.2% 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.