USCIS Increased Scrutiny 2026: OFLC Releases Q2 FY2026 Labor Certification Statistics

The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has released its public disclosure data and selected program statistics for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. This quarterly release provides transparency into the volume and outcomes of labor certification applications processed under programs including the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, which is a critical step for many EB-3 employment-based green card applicants. The Q2 FY2026 statistics offer immigration practitioners and applicants a data-driven view of current processing trends. OFLC public disclosure files typically include details on employer sponsors, job classifications, prevailing wages, and certification outcomes — data that can be used to assess how labor market conditions and agency review standards are evolving under heightened scrutiny in 2026. For EB-3 applicants, OFLC data is particularly significant because the PERM labor certification process administered by DOL is a prerequisite for most EB-3 skilled worker and professional petitions. Trends in certification rates, processing times, and audit frequencies directly affect the overall green card timeline for this category. Immigration attorneys and employers are encouraged to review the full public disclosure dataset, available through the DOL's Foreign Labor Certification Data Center, to identify any shifts in adjudication patterns or wage level requirements that could impact pending or future PERM filings.