Seasonal businesses play a critical role in local economies across the United States. Industries such as hospitality, construction, landscaping, seafood processing, tourism, and property services depend on a reliable workforce to meet peak demand. For many employers, the H-2B visa program is essential to keeping operations running and communities economically stable.
The H-2B program allows U.S. employers to legally hire temporary, non-agricultural workers when qualified domestic workers are unavailable. Employers must recruit U.S. workers first, comply with strict wage and labor protections, and demonstrate a legitimate seasonal need. In practice, the program supplements the domestic workforce, it does not replace it.
Demand for H-2B workers far exceeds the program’s 66,000 annual visa cap. For April 1 start dates in FY 2025, employers requested over 149,000 positions, and for October 1 FY 2026 start dates, 47,488 requests have already been submitted.
As of December 31, 2025, no announcement on cap relief has been made, leaving employers uncertain about staffing, contracts, and operations in the months ahead.
“At másLabor, we work with employers who are doing everything right, recruiting U.S. workers first, complying with the law, and trying to support their employees and communities,” said Chris Ball, Chief Executive Officer of másLabor. “When demand for the H-2B program so dramatically exceeds the available visas and there’s no guidance on cap relief, it doesn’t just impact businesses. It impacts local economies, families, and lives that depend on these seasonal industries staying open and operating at full capacity.”
When businesses cannot access the workers they need, the effects ripple outward. Projects are delayed, services are reduced, and year-round American jobs tied to management, logistics, sales, and administration are put at risk. Local tax bases shrink, and communities, particularly rural, coastal, and tourism-driven areas feel the strain.
At másLabor, we are dedicated to serving our clients with compliant, transparent workforce solutions while advocating for policies that reflect today’s labor market realities. The H-2B program remains a vital tool for sustaining seasonal industries, protecting American jobs, and supporting the communities that rely on them.
Until long-term reforms align visa availability with real-world demand, timely and predictable H-2B cap relief is not just helpful, it is essential.
Read our full press release here
