H-1B Demand Is Rising in Texas: Why Foreign-Worker Hiring Is Bucking the U.S. Trend

Texas is emerging as a major centre of H-1B demand, even as employer filings for foreign skilled workers have fallen across most parts of the United States. New analysis of federal labour filings shows that several Texas congressional districts recorded some of the country's fastest growth in H-1B-related activity between 2019 and 2025.

The shift highlights how the geography of skilled-worker demand in the US is changing. While traditional technology hubs have seen weaker activity, Texas has continued to attract businesses in technology, financial services, consulting, healthcare, engineering and other specialised fields. According to an analysis of roughly 6.9 million Labor Condition Applications filed with the US Department of Labor, fewer than one-quarter of the 243 congressional districts studied recorded an increase in filings between fiscal years 2019 and 2025. Texas, however, accounted for eight of the fastest-growing districts.

The strongest increase came in Texas' 3rd Congressional District, where certified LCA filings climbed from 1,388 in fiscal 2019 to 4,748 in fiscal 2025, representing an increase of around 242%. In the 26th District, filings rose from 2,010 to 6,374, an increase of approximately 217%. Several other Texas districts also registered substantial growth during the period, reinforcing the state's position as an increasingly important destination for companies seeking specialised workers.

The rise is closely connected to Texas' changing economy. Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and other major business centres have attracted new corporate operations and technology investment over recent years. The expansion has increased demand for professionals in areas such as software development, information technology, engineering, data and financial services.

Texas also has a large presence of global IT and consulting companies that regularly use the H-1B programme to recruit specialised talent. This has helped create a steady pipeline of foreign-worker demand alongside the state's broader economic expansion. The LCA figures should not be confused with the number of H-1B visas actually issued. An LCA is a Department of Labor filing that an employer generally submits as part of the process of hiring an H-1B worker. A filing does not automatically result in an approved H-1B petition or a visa.

The Texas trend is particularly significant because it contrasts with the broader national picture. Many US districts have experienced falling H-1B-related activity since 2019, reflecting changes in technology hiring, corporate restructuring and uncertainty surrounding immigration policy. For Indian professionals, who have historically represented a significant share of H-1B workers, Texas' growth could make the state an increasingly important employment market. Technology professionals with experience in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, software engineering, data analytics and semiconductor-related fields may find opportunities as companies expand their US operations.

The rise in demand does not necessarily mean the H-1B process is becoming easier. Employers continue to face regulatory requirements and costs, while changes to US immigration policy could influence future hiring decisions. The latest figures point to a broader transformation in the US skilled-worker market. H-1B demand is no longer moving uniformly across the country. Instead, some traditional employment centres are seeing declines while fast-growing business regions, particularly parts of Texas, are attracting increasing employer interest. If the trend continues, Texas could strengthen its position as one of the country's most important hubs for foreign skilled workers, even as overall H-1B activity remains under pressure elsewhere in the United States.