Work Force Talent - H-1B Applications per 1000 Jobs
Number of H-1B Visa Requests per 1000 Jobs
2.01
Applications for Computer Occupations (#1)
202
(2017, Larimer)
202
(2017, Larimer)
Applications for Engineers (#2)
42
(2017, Larimer)
42
(2017, Larimer)
Applications for Post-Secondary Teachers (#3)
22
(2017, Larimer)
22
(2017, Larimer)
Why do we track this? Certain high-skill occupations that require extensive education and training can be challenging for employers to fill only with local talent. This data provides a window into the types of positions that employers are identifying international talent to fill.
What are limitations of this measurement? There are many more applications for H-1B visas made by employers than visas available to award in any year. Additionally, it may take more than one year for a request to be filled, and multiple visas can be requested in a single application. This is a measurement of cases initiated in a given year per total employed in that year only, and doesn't reflect the number of H-1B participants working in a region or the number of successful applicants. Additionally, this does not necessarily represent international recruitment for a job. A number of H-1B applicants were already in the U.S. prior to applying for the job that provided sponsorship. For example, many international students who wish to stay in the United States after graduation require a work visa to stay and seek jobs local to where they already live.
H1-B visas are limited to specific types of high-skill jobs. Other visa programs cover employment of temporary seasonal workers.
Data Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration. Labor Certification Data. H1-B program. Cases deduplicated by case number and assigned to year of first submission.
- U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Annual Averages.
- Original Brookings Institute Methodology. This measure uses a similar methodology as this report. This only measures deduplicated requests, not individual positions requested. It also does not reflect how many people were actually hired under the visa program.
Related Dashboard Measures
- Patents Issued per 1000 Workers (Business Vitality)
- % of Workers Employed in Advanced Industries (Work Force Talent)
Additional Information and Other Data Sources
- The Search for Skills: Demand for H-1B Immigrant Workers in U.S. Metropolitan Areas
- U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services Temporary Visa Programs An overview of the non-immigrant visa classifications for workers.
- Colorado Labor Market Information Gateway Labor Market data and regional profiles.