Myth: "Millions of H-1B workers are taking over the U.S. workforce."
Fact: H-1B workers represent a tiny fraction of the total U.S. workforce.
of U.S. Workforce
Myth: "90% of all U.S. tech jobs are held by H-1B workers."
Fact: H-1B workers in tech-specific roles make up less than 4% of the U.S. tech workforce.
of U.S. Tech Workforce
(Approx. ~390k H-1B tech workers vs.
9.9 million U.S. tech workers
)
(Tech worker % based on 3-year avg from
FY24,
FY23, &
FY22
USCIS reports)
Myth: "H-1B workers are cheap labor used to undercut U.S. wages."
Fact: The median for H-1B *tech* workers is even higher than the median for U.S. software developers.
(Sources: USCIS FY24 Report and BLS )
Myth: "H-1B is a low-skill program."
Fact: The program is, by definition, for "specialty occupations" requiring a degree. H-1B holders are far more likely to hold advanced degrees.
(Sources: USCIS FY24 Report and U.S. Census Bureau )
Myth: "H-1B workers cause unemployment."
Fact: Data shows no correlation. As demand for new H-1B workers rose (2010-2023), the tech unemployment rate consistently *decreased*.
(Long-term trend source: FWD.us )
2025 Market Context: The AI Shift
Recent reports show more volatility in tech unemployment (e.g., rates between 4.5%-5.5% in 2025). This is driven by a market split: high demand for new, specialized AI skills and lower demand for non-specialized roles.
This reinforces the H-1B program's purpose: to fill high-demand, specialty occupation gaps (like AI) that the general labor pool cannot. (Source)