EPFO Achieves Historic Milestone with Record Addition of 20.06 Lakh Net Members in May 2025

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New Enrolments Cross 9.42 Lakh, Youth and Female Workforce Drive Growth

New Delhi: In a landmark achievement, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recorded its highest-ever monthly net addition of members, with 20.06 lakh individuals joining the provident fund ecosystem in May 2025. This unprecedented growth reflects a significant expansion of India’s formal workforce and stands as the highest net payroll addition since the commencement of payroll data reporting in April 2018.

The latest provisional payroll data released by EPFO highlights not just the growth in net members but also a remarkable surge in first-time subscribers, especially among the youth, as well as a notable rise in female participation in the organized workforce.

Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, hailed the milestone, stating:
“The EPFO has recorded an all-time high net member addition in May 2025, a testament to the growing strength of India’s formal employment landscape. This historic achievement is the direct result of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership and the government’s unwavering commitment to pro-youth, pro-worker reforms. Under the Prime Minister’s guidance, our focus on ease of doing business and economic empowerment is yielding tangible outcomes, and we remain dedicated to building a robust and inclusive labour ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat.”

Key Highlights of EPFO Payroll Data – May 2025

1. New Enrolments Surge

EPFO enrolled approximately 9.42 lakh new subscribers during May 2025, registering a sharp 11.04% increase compared to April 2025. This rise is attributed to enhanced job opportunities, increasing awareness of social security benefits, and EPFO’s extensive outreach efforts that have successfully encouraged more workers to join the provident fund network.

2. Youth (18-25 Age Group) Driving Workforce Entry

The 18-25 age group continues to dominate EPFO’s subscriber base. In May 2025, 5.60 lakh new subscribers were added within this group, accounting for a significant 59.48% of total new enrolments.

Notably, the net payroll addition for the 18-25 age group touched 8.73 lakh, marking a 15.10% month-on-month increase compared to April 2025. This pattern underscores that the majority of new entrants into India’s formal sector are young, first-time job seekers, signaling a positive trend for long-term economic growth and workforce renewal.

3. Rejoining of Members

An encouraging 16.11 lakh members, who had earlier exited, rejoined the EPFO in May 2025. This figure shows a 2.12% increase over April 2025 and a strong 14.27% growth year-on-year compared to May 2024.

This rejoining trend is driven by job mobility within the formal sector, with employees opting to transfer their provident fund balances rather than withdraw them. This not only preserves long-term savings but also strengthens the social security framework.

4. Rising Female Participation

Female participation in the EPFO system saw significant growth. Around 2.62 lakh new female subscribers joined EPFO in May 2025, registering a 7.08% month-on-month increase over April 2025.

The net female payroll addition stood at 4.25 lakh, up 7.54% compared to April 2025, and showing an impressive 15.04% growth year-on-year. This trend reflects India’s ongoing shift towards a more inclusive and gender-diverse workforce, supported by policies that encourage women’s participation in formal employment.

5. State-Wise Contributions

Payroll data analysis indicates that the top five states and Union Territories—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Haryana—contributed approximately 59.98% of the total net payroll addition, equating to 12.03 lakh members in May 2025.

Maharashtra led the chart, contributing 20.33% of the month’s net payroll additions. Additionally, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana each added more than 5% to the total net payroll, highlighting the growing formal workforce across India’s key industrial hubs.

6. Industry-Wise Trends

Industry-level data reveals significant month-on-month growth in sectors such as:

Expert Services (including manpower suppliers)
Textiles
Cleaning and Sweeping Services
Electrical, Mechanical, or General Engineering Products
Financing Establishments
Garment Manufacturing

Of the total net payroll additions, 44.61% came from Expert Services, with manpower suppliers alone contributing 4.62 lakh members (51.71% of this category).

Breakdown of Expert Services:

Manpower Suppliers – 4,62,735
Expert Services (Unclassified) – 1,38,294
Miscellaneous Activities – 1,09,234
Security Services – 97,172
Normal Contractors – 87,378
Total: 8,94,813 members

Data Authenticity and Continuous Updates

The payroll data is provisional, as EPFO continuously updates employee records. Changes may arise from late filing or modifications in Electronic Challan-cum-Returns (ECRs) or corrections to exit dates for employees.

Since April 2018, EPFO has been releasing monthly payroll data, covering the period from September 2017 onwards. The net payroll figures consider three categories:

First-time subscribers with Aadhaar-validated Universal Account Numbers (UANs).
Members exiting the EPFO coverage.
Members who rejoin after exiting.

Conclusion

The May 2025 payroll data underscores the resilience and growth of India’s formal sector, with youth and women driving the surge in membership. With 20.06 lakh net members added in a single month, EPFO is not just strengthening the country’s social security ecosystem but also reinforcing the government’s vision of “Viksit Bharat”—a developed and inclusive India.

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