Industry-specific EB-3 pathways: Construction, Healthcare & Manufacturing

Want to work and live a stable life abroad? Are you opting for permanent residency in the US? Then the EB-3 Visa Green Card Program is the way to go.

This green card program offers employment-based visa opportunities for eligible workers and professionals in various industries. With the extreme labor shortfalls that the US is facing recently, major sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and construction, are leveraging the EB-3 category to hire foreign talent to fill the essential open positions in a very structured way.

This piece will provide you with an idea of the key industry-specific scopes, eligibility requirements, and changes that are redefining the US labor markets.

The EB-3 Visa category

The EB-3 Visa is one crucial part of the employment-based third preference immigrant visa category, which includes three main subcategories:  

• Skilled workers – Applicants must have at least two years of job experience, training, or education relevant to the position.  
• Professionals –  Requires a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in a field related to the job.  
• Other Workers – This segment covers unskilled job positions that require less than two years of training or experience.

Under the EB-3 category, the US allocates about 40,000 visas annually, along with per-country caps to warrant diversity. However, applicants from high-demand regions, like the Philippines, India, Mexico, and China, often struggle with extended waiting periods.

Why does EB-3 matter for US industries?

The U.S. economy heavily relies on foreign labor to fill employment gaps in essential industries. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are an estimated 9.5 million job openings, but the availability of only 6.5 million unemployed workers highlights a severe skills mismatch. The EB-3 Visa Green Card Program helps minimize this gap by allowing employers to sponsor foreign workers for more permanent job positions.  

EB-3 pathways in the Construction industry

For a long time, the U.S. construction industry has employed and relied on immigrant labor. Plus, recent federal infrastructure investments have intensified this demand for skilled tradespeople. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) disbursed about $1.2 trillion to build roads, bridges, and renewable energy projects, thereby creating thousands of new jobs. 

Top EB-3 eligible construction job roles

• Carpenters – Average salary $51,390 – Skilled in cabinetry, finishing, and framing.
• Electricians – Average salary $60,040 (as per BLS 2023) – Demands technical training and licensing.
• Welders – Average salary $47,540 – Needs AWS or state certifications (occasionally)
• Heavy equipment operators – Average salary $49,100 – Requires OSHA and specialised training.

Challenges & tactics for EB-3 workers

• Labor shortages – The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reports that 89% of construction firms often fail to hire skilled workers.  
• PERM Labor Certification – Prospective employers must prove they cannot find eligible U.S. workers before sponsoring an EB-3 visa. This involves their efforts with job postings on multiple platforms (state workforce agencies, newspapers, online job boards) and recruitment reports underscoring the unavailability of qualified U.S. applicants.  
• State-specific demand – States like Texas, Florida, and California have the highest construction job growth, boosting EB-3 sponsorship opportunities.

Tip: Foreign nationals can boost their chances by obtaining US-recognized certifications, like OSHA 30 or NCCER, to gain documented experience.

EB-3 opportunities in Healthcare

The U.S. healthcare system is going through a crisis-level labor shortage, with an estimated deficit of 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). However, the EB-3 Visa Green Card Program is a viable route for hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics to fill vacant essential positions. 

Workers in Schedule A occupations, namely nurses and physical therapists, can skip the PERM Labor Certification stage, speeding up the processing timelines. 

Coveted EB-3 healthcare jobs

Industry trends influencing EB-3 demand

• Aging population – It is predicted that by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65+ years, increasing demand for nurses and elder care workers.  
• Rural healthcare shortages – More than 80 million Americans live in areas with insufficient healthcare access, driving demand for foreign-trained professionals.  
• Fast-track options – Some states offer expedited licensing for internationally trained nurses and doctors. 

Note: The H-1B threshold exceptions for healthcare workers led to more employers inclining towards the EB-3 Visa as a long-term solution.

Manufacturing sector $ EB-3 Visa solutions

As per the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. manufacturing industry, despite excessive automation, still faces a skills gap with over 600,000 unfilled jobs. The EB-3 Green Card Jobs in this sector often require technical expertise in machining, engineering, and quality control. 

Top EB-3 manufacturing positions

• CNC machinists – Average salary $48,310 – Operate computer-controlled machines.  
• Industrial engineers – Average salary $96,350 – Optimize production efficiency.  
• Welders & metal fabricators – Average salary $47,540 – Skilled in TIG/MIG welding.  
• Quality control inspectors – Average salary $44,190 – Ensure compliance with industry standards.

Key challenges & employer strategies

• Reshoring trend – Companies are bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., increasing demand for skilled labor.  
• Apprenticeship programs – Some employers sponsor EB-3 workers through DOL-certified apprenticeships, effectively bypassing some PERM obstacles.  
• State incentives – States like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania offer tax credits for manufacturers employing skilled foreign workers.

Putting it all together

These vast industries share the same level of dependence on the EB-3 Visa program for permanent staffing. On the other hand, the EB-3 Green Card Jobs appeal to foreign workers with a stable career, a green card, and family security.

Last words

With the current labor shortage scenario in the US, the EB-3 Visa pathway is a vital tool for industries to hire foreign talent and for workers to secure jobs and permanent residency. It emerged as a sustainable solution to reinforce labor gaps, despite existing backlogs and prolonged waiting times.