PERM Statistics for FY2015 First Quarter

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), a division within the U.S. Department of Labor, issued statistics for PERM filings for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 (FY2015). The statistics cover the period from October 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The OFLC statistics report can be found at:http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/PERM_Selected_Statistics_FY_2015_Q1.pdf.

The PERM process refers to the Permanent Labor Certification Program, which is the first step that employers of employment-based nonimmigrants must take before they can offer a permanent position to the foreign worker. The PERM process applies to foreign workers with H-1B visa, L-1 visa, TN visa, and other temporary employment-based nonimmigrant visas who seek to obtain legal permanent resident status through their employers.

The stated goal of the PERM process is to “protect U.S. workers and the U.S. labor market by ensuring that foreign workers seeking immigrant visa classifications are not displacing equally qualified U.S. workers.” In other words, if the U.S. government determines that there are any qualified U.S. workers available, then the foreign worker cannot be granted permanent employment in the U.S. However, the foreign worker will still be allowed to work in the U.S. for the remainder of their already granted temporary visa, and may be able to reapply for Labor Certification.

Key Statistics for First Quarter FY2015

· For the first quarter of FY2015, the OFLC received 23,133 PERM applications, which is a 31% increase over the same period in FY2014. Of those, 16,192 applications were certified.

· The top five occupations are the same as for FY2014. Of the total number of certified applications, 58% were “Computer and Mathematical,” 10% were “Architecture and Engineering,” 8% were “Management,” 7% were “Business and Financial Operations,” and 5% were “Education, Training, and Library.”

· California is still the top state with 27% of all certified applications for the first quarter of FY2015. Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Washington comprise the remainder of the top five states.

· The majority of PERM certifications are for Indian nationals at 57%. China, South Korea, Canada, and the Philippines comprise the remainder of the top five countries.

· The vast majority of certified applications are for H-1B visas at 83%.

· 39% of the certified applications had a minimum education requirement of a Bachelor’s degree, and 54% of the certified applications had a minimum education requirement of an advanced degree.