This new data study analyzes federal H-1B employment records to identify which U.S. cities and industries employ the most foreign workers—highlighting where global talent is most concentrated across the U.S. economy. The report covers the top cities and industries driving H-1B employment, with breakdowns of total and per-capita H-1B visa approvals and hires in 2025.

This new data study analyzes federal H-1B employment records to identify which U.S. cities and industries employ the most foreign workers—highlighting where global talent is most concentrated across the U.S. economy. The report covers the top cities and industries driving H-1B employment, with breakdowns of total and per-capita H-1B visa approvals and hires in 2025.

The H-1B visa program is a crucial path for skilled foreign workers in U.S. industries. With the new $100,000 H-1B application fee now in effect for overseas filings—the biggest cost shift in the program’s history—Manifest Law has published a new analysis mapping where H-1B workers earn the highest wages in the U.S. Using newly released Department of Labor certification data, the study ranks U.S. metros by median H-1B wage and includes breakouts by occupation, employer, and state. The rankings reveal which U.S. cities and tech companies pay the most for specialized foreign talent.

As a record construction boom collides with chronic labor shortages, the U.S. construction industry is more reliant on immigrant workers than ever. Nationwide, over a quarter of the construction workforce is foreign-born—and in several major metros, that figure exceeds 50%. As federal immigration enforcement ramps up, these markets in particular could see crews thin out, costs climb, and key projects delayed. A new analysis from Construction Coverage identifies the U.S. metros and states where the construction industry depends most on foreign workers, analyzing the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau to rank locations by the percentage of construction employees who are foreign-born.

As a record construction boom collides with chronic labor shortages, the U.S. construction industry is more reliant on immigrant workers than ever. Nationwide, over a quarter of the construction workforce is foreign-born—and in several major metros, that figure exceeds 50%. As federal immigration enforcement ramps up, these markets in particular could see crews thin out, costs climb, and key projects delayed. A new analysis from Construction Coverage identifies the U.S. metros and states where the construction industry depends most on foreign workers, analyzing the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau to rank locations by the percentage of construction employees who are foreign-born.