Hilton Head Reporter

Employers classified under the Educational Services industry based within the Hilton Head Reporter publication area, submitted 52 H-1B petitions during 2024, according to data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-1B Employer Data Hub. Of these, 49 were approved (94.2%), while three were denied (5.8%).

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%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the Hilton Head Reporter publication area submitted 58 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 93.1%.

The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in the Hilton Head Reporter publication area during 2024, with 52 petitions (89.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 94.2%.

The Hilton Head Reporter publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Jasper County School District, which filed 48 petitions with an approval rate of 93.8%, Royal Live Oaks Academy with three petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Polaris Technician Charter School, which filed one petition with an approval rate of 100%.

Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the Hilton Head Reporter publication area saw a 23.5% 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	Educational Services	52	89.7%	94.2%	5.8%
2	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	1	1.7%	100%	0%
2	Health Care and Social Assistance	1	1.7%	100%	0%
2	Construction	1	1.7%	100%	0%

Company Name	Industry	Total Petitions	% Approved	% Denied
Jasper County School District	Educational Services	51	92.2%	7.8%
Royal Live Oaks Academy	Educational Services	3	100%	0%
29e6, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	1	100%	0%
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital	Health Care and Social Assistance	1	100%	0%
Master Steel, LLC	Construction	1	100%	0%
Polaris Technician Charter School	Educational Services	1	100%	0%