Beyond the 70% headline: H-1B workers becoming more educated, better paid
Recent USCIS data shows that H-1B visa beneficiaries are increasingly highly educated, with over half holding master's degrees or higher. While Indian nationals continue to receive the majority of approvals, the report emphasizes a shift toward specialized skills in fields like AI and cloud computing.
Why it matters
The data challenges simplistic narratives about the H-1B program by highlighting the rising educational attainment and economic value of visa recipients to the US tech sector.
Of the H-1B petitions approved in fiscal 2025 (fiscal ended Sept 30), nearly 70 percent were for beneficiaries whose country of birth was India. The second most common country of birth was China, accounting for approximately 12 percent of all beneficiaries.Top source countries for H-1B visas (including extensions)1 India 2,83,772 69.9% 2 China 49,161 12.1% 3 Philippines 5,546 1.4% 4 Canada 4,382 1.1% 5 South Korea 4,195 1.0% 6 Mexico 3,390 0.8% Global total 4,06,348 However, the latest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) annual report on H-1B specialty occupation workers offers a far richer picture than the now-familiar headline that Indians account for roughly seven out of every ten H-1B approvals.The fiscal 2025 report, which was released this spring, shows an H-1B program that is becoming increasingly dominated by highly qualified professionals, with master's degree holders now form the majority of beneficiaries, while computer-related occupations continue to drive demand.…
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