7/31/2008

Foreign Labor Certification Prevailing Wage Online Updated to 2008-2009 Data Effective July 1, 2008 : Beginning from July 1, 2008, the State Workforce Agencies or other wage determination sources must use the new wage data that was updated and released today on July 1, 2008. This wage data will remain effective through June 30, 2009. 

Those employers who file H-1B petitions using SOC/OES wage or PERM application using the SWA wage determination must meet the new prevailing wage as reflected in the new 2008-2009 wage data. It is somewhat striking that the SOC/OES was updated so quickly this year. In the past, there was some time lag in releasing the new wage data for the next year wage data for a period of one week or two weeks, and consequently the new data did not go into effect until the middle of July. 

Please visit the foreign labor certification wage data center (http://www.flcdatacenter.com/) web site for these changes. Those who search the OES Online Wage Library will notice the DOL advice that the wage data has been changed effective today.