Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has reported its highest-ever monthly net member addition of 20.06 lakh in May 2025.
This figure includes 9.42 lakh new subscribers, reflecting a surge in workforce formalization and heightened awareness of social security benefits.
The data, released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, underscores the impact of targeted outreach initiatives and pro-worker reforms.
Youth Drive Majority of EPFO New Enrollments
A defining feature of the May 2025 payroll data is the dominance of the 18–25 age group, which accounted for 5.60 lakh of the new subscribers—59.48% of the total.
This segment saw a 14.53% increase over April 2025, reaffirming the trend that most individuals entering the organized workforce are young, first-time job seekers.
The net payroll addition for this age group stood at 8.73 lakh, up 15.10% month-on-month and 0.11% year-on-year.
This growth reflects expanding employment opportunities and the success of EPFO’s efforts to engage younger demographics through digital platforms and simplified enrollment processes.
EPFO Rejoining Members Signal Job Mobility and Benefit Retention
In addition to new enrollments, EPFO recorded 16.11 lakh rejoining members in May 2025.
These individuals had previously exited the EPFO system but chose to re-enter by transferring their provident fund accumulations rather than opting for final settlement.
This behavior indicates a growing recognition of long-term financial planning and the value of sustained social security coverage.
The rejoining figure represents a 2.12% increase over April 2025 and a 14.27% rise compared to May 2024, suggesting improved job mobility within the formal sector and greater continuity in benefit utilization.
Female Participation Shows Encouraging Growth
Female workforce participation also saw notable improvement.
EPFO added 2.62 lakh new female subscribers in May, a 7.08% increase over the previous month and a 5.84% year-on-year growth.
The net female payroll addition reached 4.25 lakh, reflecting a 7.54% month-on-month and 15.04% year-on-year increase.
This upward trend points to a more inclusive labor market and the effectiveness of gender-sensitive employment policies.
It also highlights the role of EPFO in supporting women’s financial independence and long-term savings.
State-Wise Contributions and Sectoral Trends
Geographically, the top five states and union territories contributed 59.98% of the net payroll additions, totaling 12.03 lakh members.
Maharashtra led with 20.33%, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana—each contributing over 5% of the total.
Industry-wise, the most significant growth was observed in expert services, which accounted for 44.61% of the net additions.
Within this category, manpower suppliers made up 51.71%, followed by security services, contractors, and cleaning services.
Other sectors showing strong performance included textiles, engineering, finance, and garment manufacturing.
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