Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recorded a net addition of 21.04 lakh members in July 2025, marking a 5.55% year-on-year increase compared to July 2024.
The latest payroll data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment highlights a continued expansion of formal employment in India, driven by job creation, increased awareness of social security benefits, and EPFO’s outreach initiatives.
Of the total additions, 9.79 lakh were new subscribers, indicating a healthy inflow of first-time entrants into the organised workforce.
This growth is consistent with EPFO’s efforts to improve coverage and simplify enrollment processes for both employers and employees.
Youth Dominate New EPFO Enrollments
A significant portion of the new subscribers—about 5.98 lakh—belonged to the 18–25 age group, accounting for 61.06% of all new additions in July.
This trend reinforces the observation that most individuals joining the formal workforce are young and likely first-time job seekers.
The net payroll addition for this age group stood at approximately 9.13 lakh, reflecting a 4.09% increase from July 2024.
The consistent dominance of this demographic suggests that EPFO continues to play a key role in integrating youth into the formal employment ecosystem.
Rejoining Members Signal Workforce Mobility
In addition to new subscribers, EPFO saw 16.43 lakh members rejoin the scheme in July 2025.
These individuals had previously exited but returned after switching jobs and re-entering establishments covered under EPFO.
This segment registered a 12.12% year-on-year growth, indicating improved job mobility and a preference for retaining long-term social security benefits.
Rather than opting for final settlement, many of these members chose to transfer their provident fund accumulations, thereby safeguarding their retirement savings and maintaining continuity in coverage.
EPFO Female Participation Shows Gradual Uptick
Female workforce participation also saw modest growth.
Around 2.80 lakh new female subscribers joined EPFO in July, contributing to a net female payroll addition of 4.42 lakh.
This marks a 0.17% increase compared to the same period last year.
While the growth is incremental, it reflects a broader shift toward a more inclusive and gender-diverse workforce.
EPFO’s data suggests that female payroll addition may be contributing to this trend.
State-Level Trends: Maharashtra Leads Additions
State-wise analysis shows that five states and union territories accounted for 60.85% of the total net payroll additions in July, amounting to approximately 12.80 lakh members.
Maharashtra led the tally with 20.47% of the net additions, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh—all of which individually contributed more than 5%.
These figures highlight the concentration of formal employment growth in industrial and service-oriented states, where EPFO coverage is more widespread.
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