PERM Trends & Analysis

Key Insights

• • The 89.8% overall certification rate is a positive indicator for prospective applicants — roughly 9 in 10 completed PERM cases resulted in approval, suggesting that well-prepared applications have a high probability of success.
• • Average processing time of 487 days (~16 months) means applicants should plan for a significant wait between PERM filing and receiving certification, which directly delays the I-140 immigrant petition stage.
• • Software Developers dominate PERM filings at 1,917 cases with an average wage of $143,805, but EB-3 'other worker' pathways remain active — Maids/Housekeeping Cleaners (231 cases, avg. $28,750) and Production Helpers (252 cases, avg. $14,824) show meaningful filing volume for lower-wage categories.
• • Florida's 80.1% certification rate is notably lower than other high-volume states — applicants and employers in Florida should carefully review DOL audit triggers and ensure airtight recruitment documentation.
• • High-volume employers such as Labor Guys LLC (218 cases) and Crestline Hotels & Resorts (174 cases) achieving 100% certification rates suggests that experienced, repeat filers develop effective processes — working with employers who have established PERM programs may improve individual case outcomes.
• • The Information and Finance & Insurance industries post the highest certification rates (93.8% and 94.0% respectively), making them favorable sectors for EB-3 sponsorship from a pure approval-odds perspective.
• • With 568 withdrawn cases representing 6.1% of total filings, applicants should be aware that a non-trivial share of cases are abandoned — often due to job changes, employer restructuring, or strategic refiling — highlighting the importance of stable employment throughout the lengthy PERM process.