November 18, 2010

Department of Labor Releases 2009 Annual Report 

On October 27, 2010, the Department of Labor released its 2009 Annual Report, titled The Foreign Labor Certification Report: 2009 Data, Trends and Highlights Across Programs and States.

According to the report, "In FY 2009, there were a total of 294,122 employer applications processed requesting 798,288 positions for permanent and temporary foreign labor certification."  The 2009 fiscal year also witnessed a "40 percent decrease from the number of cases certified in FY 2008." 

With 6,155 certifications, California had the highest number of permanent labor certifications in FY 2009, almost double the amount of New York, the state with the second highest number.  Alaska had the lowest number of permanent labor certifications with 10. 

The highest number of permanent labor certifications were in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, followed by Manufacturing, Educational Services, and Health Care and Social Assistance.  Computer Software Engineers, Applications was the individual occupational title with the most certifications.

The full annual report can be found at: http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/2009_Annual_Report.pdf.