Bluegrass Times

Employers classified under the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry based in Kentucky submitted 10 H-1B petitions during 2024, according to data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-1B Employer Data Hub.

Of these, eight were approved (80%), while two were denied (20%).

Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.

The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.

The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, higher than 2023's 97.3%. Statewide, Kentucky employers across all industries submitted 1,253 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 96.9%.

The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in Kentucky during 2024, with 360 petitions (28.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 94.4%. Meanwhile, the Management of Companies and Enterprises industry was the second largest contributor, filing 252 petitions (20.1% of the total), with an approval rate of 99.2%.

The Kentucky employers which made the most petitions in the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation sector during 2024 included Churchill Downs Incorporated with four petitions, Churchill Downs Technology Initiat with three petitions, and Keeneland Association, Inc. with two petitions.

Churchill Downs Incorporated and Churchill Downs Technology Initiat, led the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry in Kentucky with the highest approval rate of 100% in 2024.

Compared to 2023, the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation sector in Kentucky saw a 100% increase in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.

The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.

Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.

The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.

Rank	Industry	Total Petitions	% of All Submissions	% Approved	% Denied
1	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	360	28.7%	94.4%	5.6%
2	Management of Companies and Enterprises	252	20.1%	99.2%	0.8%
3	Educational Services	208	16.6%	95.2%	4.8%
4	Health Care and Social Assistance	176	14.1%	98.9%	1.1%
5	Manufacturing	131	10.5%	99.2%	0.8%
6	Accommodation and Food Services	44	3.5%	97.7%	2.3%
7	Finance and Insurance	16	1.3%	100%	0%
8	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	12	1%	100%	0%
9	Information	10	0.8%	100%	0%
9	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	10	0.8%	80%	20%
11	Retail Trade	8	0.6%	100%	0%
11	Construction	8	0.6%	100%	0%
13	Wholesale Trade	6	0.5%	100%	0%
14	Utilities	3	0.2%	100%	0%
14	Other Services (except Public Administration)	3	0.2%	100%	0%
14	Transportation and Warehousing	3	0.2%	66.7%	33.3%
17	Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	1	0.1%	100%	0%
17	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	1	0.1%	100%	0%
17	Public Administration	1	0.1%	100%	0%

Rank	Company Name	Total Petitions	% Approved	% Denied
1	Churchill Downs Incorporated	4	100%	0%
2	Churchill Downs Technology Initiat	3	100%	0%
3	Keeneland Association, Inc.	2	50%	50%
4	The Louisville Indoor Racquet Club, Inc.	1	0%	100%