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H-2B Temporary Guest Workers: Search Labor Certification Applications
View as map. Search federal H-2B visa data with an interactive map created by PolicyMap.
Information compiled by Foreign Labor Certification Data Center. Data from FY2000-2010 for H-2B temporary guest workers filed by employers with the US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification.
What is this H-2B Visa Database and what does it mean?
The H-2B work visa program allows U.S. companies to bring in guest workers from abroad to do seasonal or temporary non-farm jobs that they have been unable to fill with Americans workers.
Supporters say temporary guest workers reduce illegal immigration, critics say they take jobs from Americans.
Over the past decade, federal data (FY200-2009) shows companies have requested H-2B visas for more than 1.3 million jobs — from landscape workers to hotel housekeepers, stable hands to soccer coaches. (see ranking of Top 25 Jobs below).
In order for companies to be approved for H-2B visas, they must prove that they have tried - and failed -- to find Americans and pledge to pay guest workers the "prevailing wages" of the local market. Applications are submitted to the Dept of Labor, the Dept. of Homeland Security and eventually the U.S. State Department.
We wanted to know what kinds of businesses are applying for foreign guest workers. What kind of jobs are they unable to fill with domestic workers? What do these jobs pay?
To find out, Dan Rather Reports compiled H-2B application data obtained from two of these agencies: the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center in the Dept. of Labor (FY2000-2010) and U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Dept. of Homeland Security (FY 2006- June 2010).
In order to give the public an easy way to search these federal records, we created this interactive database and asked PolicyMap to create an interactive map.
Please check them out and let us know what you think (viewer@hd.net) or join the discussion on Facebook.
TOP 25 H-2B Worker Categories Requested
(Dept of Labor FY2000-2009)
| Job Title | Workers | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Laborer, Landscape | 488,111 |
| 2. | Cleaner, Housekeeping | 140,950 |
| 3. | Forest Worker | 119,486 |
| 4. | Tree Planter | 67,640 |
| 5. | Construction Worker I | 65,502 |
| 6. | Construction Worker II | 56,674 |
| 7. | Stable Attendant | 47,387 |
| 8. | Welder Fitter | 40,365 |
| 9. | Kitchen Helper | 34,809 |
| 10. | Dining Room Attendant | 33,528 |
| 11. | Groundskeeper, Industrial Commercial | 30,193 |
| 12. | Crab Meat Processor | 28,494 |
| 13. | Instructor, Sports | 28,259 |
| 14. | Amusement Park Worker | 25,700 |
| 15. | Housekeeper | 22,293 |
| 16. | Housecleaner | 20,811 |
| 17. | Material Handler | 20,552 |
| 18. | Waiter/Waitress, Informal | 19,055 |
| 19. | Cook | 16,167 |
| 20. | Shellfish Shucker | 15,574 |
| 21. | Welder, Combination | 14,294 |
| 22. | Circus Laborer | 14,043 |
| 23. | Tractor Trailer Truck Driver | 11,607 |
| 24. | Deckhand, Fishing Vessel | 10,916 |
| 25. | Cook Helper | 10,627 |
Please note: This information is a compilation of foreign labor certification application data that Dan Rather Reports/AXS TV obtained from the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center, US Department of Labor for FY2000 - 2009. Dan Rather Reports/AXS TV may not be held responsible for any errors or omissions in the federal data or its display.
