By Wang Law LLC — Immigration Attorneys
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released the FY 2025 Q3 PERM labor certification statistics, and the numbers reveal a dramatic shift in the employment-based immigration landscape. For thousands of international students and foreign professionals hoping to secure permanent residency through EB-2 or EB-3, the environment has become significantly more challenging.
PERM—Permanent Labor Certification—is the mandatory first step for most employer-sponsored green card categories. When PERM filings decline, green-card sponsorship opportunities shrink accordingly. The latest data paints a clear picture: U.S. employers are submitting far fewer PERM cases than in previous years, signaling a growing reluctance to sponsor foreign workers.
PERM Filings Drop 37.5% — The Steepest Decline Since 2017
According to DOL: Applications Received — FY 2025
| Quarter | Filings |
|---|
| Q1 (Oct–Dec) | 34,187 |
| Q2 (Jan–Mar) | 21,167 |
| Q3 (Apr–Jun) | 28,379 |
| Total FY25-to-Date | 83,733 |
| YOY Change vs FY 2024 | –37.5% |
This marks the largest third-quarter decline since FY 2017. Employers are filing dramatically fewer cases, directly limiting green card opportunities for foreign workers.
Applications Processed — FY 2025
| Action | FY 2025 Total | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|
| Certified | 95,185 | 22,758 | 32,289 | 40,138 |
| Denied | 2,213 | 958 | 530 | 725 |
| Withdrawn | 4,865 | 1,689 | 1,507 | 1,669 |
Certification numbers remain high because DOL is working through older cases, but new filings are sharply declining, signaling reduced employer demand.
🌎 Top 10 States for PERM Employment — FY 2025
PERM work locations reflect economic shifts across the country.
| State | Certified Cases | Share |
|---|
| California | 17,635 | 18.5% |
| Texas | 9,426 | 9.9% |
| Georgia | 6,664 | 7.0% |
| New York | 6,582 | 6.9% |
| New Jersey | 4,507 | 4.7% |
| Illinois | 4,129 | 4.3% |
| Florida | 4,010 | 4.2% |
| Washington | 3,440 | 3.6% |
| Massachusetts | 3,051 | 3.2% |
| Roving Worksites | 4,714 | 5.0% |
California alone accounts for nearly one in five PERM jobs, much of it tied to tech and scientific fields.
🏢 Top 10 Industries Sponsoring PERM — FY 2025
| Industry | Certified Cases | Share |
|---|
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | 26,386 | 27.6% |
| Manufacturing | 17,521 | 18.4% |
| Finance & Insurance | 7,456 | 7.8% |
| Information | 7,404 | 7.8% |
| Accommodation & Food Services | 6,666 | 7.0% |
| Admin, Support & Waste Management | 5,851 | 6.1% |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 5,723 | 6.0% |
| Retail Trade | 3,439 | 3.6% |
| Education Services | 2,696 | 2.8% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 2,319 | 2.4% |
Tech and scientific services dominate, but manufacturing remains strong due to robotics, EV supply chain growth, and engineering roles.
👨💻 Top 10 Occupations Receiving PERM Certifications — FY 2025
| Occupation | Certified | Share |
|---|
| Software Developers | 22,419 | 23.6% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 4,531 | 4.8% |
| Meat, Poultry & Fish Cutters/Trimmers | 3,905 | 4.1% |
| Data Scientists | 3,073 | 3.2% |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | 2,912 | 3.1% |
| Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers | 2,400 | 2.5% |
| Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 1,882 | 2.0% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,830 | 1.9% |
| Software QA Analysts & Testers | 1,679 | 1.8% |
| Industrial Engineers | 1,561 | 1.6% |
The PERM labor market is polarizing: high-skilled tech roles dominate, while lower-skilled EB-3 “Other Worker” positions are also rising.
Why Are Employers Pulling Back From PERM?
Wang Law LLC has identified several key factors:
1. Long Processing Times-PERM adjudication + prevailing wage can easily take 18–36 months.
2. Higher Legal and Compliance Burdens-Recruitment documentation, good-faith hiring proof, and audit rates have all increased.
3. Corporate Uncertainty-Tech layoffs, hiring freezes, and shifting labor demands make long-term sponsorship risky.
4. Government Scrutiny Is Rising-DOL and USCIS both tightened review standards on employment-based immigration.
The result is Employer enthusiasm for green card sponsorship has fallen dramatically.
Impact on International Students and Foreign Professionals
For F-1, STEM OPT, and H-1B holders, this trend has major consequences:
✔ Fewer employers willing to start PERM
Tech companies and financial firms are especially conservative.
✔ Increased risk of “falling out of status”
When PERM is delayed or denied, workers often run out of H-1B time.
✔ Less job mobility and higher dependence on a single employer
An unstable environment places heavy pressure on foreign workers.
What Are the Alternatives? (NIW / EB-1A / EB-5)
To reduce dependency on employers, more individuals are turning to:
⭐ EB-1A — Extraordinary Ability
- No employer required
- No PERM
- Rapid adjudication
⭐ EB-2 NIW — National Interest Waiver
- Self-petition
- Ideal for researchers, engineers, data scientists, healthcare workers
⭐ EB-5 (Investment Green Card) — Now allows Concurrent Filing
- File I-526E + I-485 together
- Receive EAD (work permit) + Advance Parole
- No H-1B / OPT dependence
- No employer sponsorship required
For many families, EB-5 has become the most stable long-term solution for securing permanent residency without employment risk.
Conclusion: The U.S. Immigration Landscape Is Shifting — Act Early
The FY 2025 PERM data shows a clear, undeniable trend: Employer-sponsored green cards are becoming harder to obtain. International students, H-1B professionals, and U.S.-based families must plan proactively to avoid falling into an immigration “dead zone.”
Wang Law LLC assists clients nationwide with:
- EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
- PERM / I-140
- EB-5 Concurrent Filing
- Marriage-based and family immigration
- Student status preservation and change of status
If you or your family need a customized strategy, contact us for a consultation.
Wang Law LLC — Immigration Attorneys
📍 Chicago & Montréal
📞 312-519-1115
📧 info@wanglaw.com
🌐 www.wanglaw.com