Rocky Mount Today

Employers based in the Rocky Mount Today publication area submitted 124 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, 119 were approved (96%), while five were denied (4%).

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. 

In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%.

The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 81 petitions (65.3% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 97.5%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 21 petitions (16.9% of the total), with an approval rate of 85.7%.

The Rocky Mount Today publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Nash County Public Schools, which filed 53 petitions with an approval rate of 96.2%, Vidant Medical Group, LLC with 17 petitions and an approval rate of 94.1%, and Edgecombe County Public Schools, which filed 16 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.

Compared to 2023, the Rocky Mount Today publication area saw a 10.8% 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	Educational Services	81	65.3%	97.5%	2.5%
2	Health Care and Social Assistance	21	16.9%	85.7%	14.3%
3	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	8	6.5%	100%	0%
4	Wholesale Trade	7	5.6%	100%	0%
5	Manufacturing	5	4%	100%	0%

Company Name	Industry(ies)	Total Petitions	% Approved	% Denied
Nash County Public Schools	Educational Services	53	96.2%	3.8%
Vidant Medical Group, LLC	Health Care and Social Assistance	17	94.1%	5.9%
Edgecombe County Public Schools	Educational Services	16	100%	0%
Youth Enrichment Program of Wilson, Inc.	Educational Services	8	100%	0%
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.	Wholesale Trade	5	100%	0%
Ecu Health	Health Care and Social Assistance	4	50%	50%
Gill S Process Control, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	3	100%	0%
LS Tractor USA, LLC	Wholesale Trade	2	100%	0%
Manufacturing Compliance and Automation Services, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	2	100%	0%
North East Carolina Preparatory School	Educational Services	2	100%	0%
Purilum, LLC	Manufacturing	2	100%	0%
Rhodes Pharmaceuticals LP	Manufacturing	2	100%	0%
Wilson Preparatory Academy	Educational Services	2	100%	0%
Greenville Shanti, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	1	100%	0%
Kidde Technologies, Inc.	Manufacturing	1	100%	0%
Midwest Veterinary Hospitals, PLLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	1	100%	0%
Purdue Pharmaceuticals L P		1	100%	0%
Rocky Mount Preparatory Academy	Educational Services	1	100%	0%
Final Moment, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	1	100%	0%