TFP Bureau, New Delhi, April 22, 2025: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has released its provisional payroll data for February 2025, showing a net addition of 16.10 lakh members. This reflects a growth of 3.99% in payroll additions compared to the same period last year, demonstrating the ongoing rise in employment opportunities and the increasing awareness of employee benefits through EPFO’s outreach initiatives.
7.39 Lakh New Subscribers Added in February 2025
In February 2025, EPFO enrolled approximately 7.39 lakh new subscribers, a positive indicator of the growing employment market. The influx of new subscribers is driven by increasing job opportunities, heightened awareness of social security benefits, and the success of EPFO’s outreach programs.
Youth Dominates New Enrollments
A notable trend in the data is the dominant participation of the 18-25 age group, which contributed to 4.27 lakh new subscribers, making up 57.71% of all new enrollments. This suggests that young, first-time job seekers continue to drive the majority of new registrations. Additionally, the net payroll addition in this age group reached 6.78 lakh, reflecting a 3.01% increase from February 2024.
Rejoining Members Show Positive Shift
February also saw approximately 13.18 lakh former EPFO members rejoining, marking an 11.85% year-over-year increase. This indicates that many individuals, after switching jobs, have opted to transfer their Provident Fund (PF) accumulations rather than withdraw them, safeguarding their long-term financial security and continuing their social protection coverage.
Growth in Female Membership
EPFO also reported significant growth in female membership. Around 2.08 lakh new female subscribers joined in February 2025, representing a 1.26% year-over-year increase. Furthermore, the net female payroll addition stood at 3.37 lakh, a notable rise of 9.23% compared to the previous year. This growth highlights a positive shift towards a more inclusive workforce in India.
State-wise Distribution of New Additions
On a state-wise basis, the top five states and union territories contributed to 59.75% of the net payroll addition, with Maharashtra leading the pack, contributing 20.90%. Other states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh also saw significant contributions.
Industry-wise Trends in Payroll Additions
Industry-wise, significant payroll growth was observed in sectors such as fish processing, non-veg food preservation, cleaning services, and the aviation industry. Of the total net payroll additions, 41.72% came from expert services, including manpower suppliers, contractors, and security services.
Ongoing Data Updates and Continuous Monitoring
It is important to note that the payroll data is provisional and subject to continuous updates as part of EPFO’s ongoing data collection process. The organization adjusts previous data each month based on updated employee records and newly filed Employer Contribution Returns (ECRs).
This payroll data release highlights the ongoing improvements in India’s employment landscape and the increasing financial security of workers through EPFO’s programs.
