The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) reported a net addition of 17.89 lakh members in January, according to the provisional payroll data released on Thursday. This marks an increase of 11.48% compared to December 2024, reflecting improved employment conditions and rising awareness of social security benefits.
The data also shows a year-on-year growth of 11.67% in net payroll additions compared to January 2024, indicating steady progress in employment generation.
New Members Enrollment:
Approximately 8.23 lakh new subscribers joined EPFO in January 2025, registering a 1.87% growth over January 2024. The increase is attributed to expanding job opportunities and the organization’s successful outreach programs.
Dominance of Young Workforce:
The age group of 18-25 years continued to lead new enrollments, with around 4.70 lakh individuals joining EPFO in this category. This accounts for 57.07% of total new subscribers. Compared to January 2024, this segment saw a 3.07% rise, reinforcing the trend of youth, especially first-time job seekers, entering the organized workforce.
Net payroll additions for the 18-25 age group stood at approximately 7.27 lakh, reflecting a 6.19% increase from December 2024 and an 8.15% rise over January 2024.
Rejoined Members:
The data further reveals that around 15.03 lakh members exited and subsequently rejoined EPFO in January. This represents a substantial 23.55% year-over-year growth. These members shifted jobs and chose to transfer their EPF accumulations, ensuring continued social security coverage.
Increase in Female Membership:
The payroll data also highlights an encouraging rise in female participation. Approximately 2.17 lakh new female subscribers were added during the month, reflecting a 6.01% growth compared to January 2024.
Net female payroll additions totaled around 3.44 lakh in January, showing a 13.48% rise over December 2024 and a year-on-year increase of 13.58%. This growth points towards a gradual shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
State-wise Contribution:
Maharashtra led the state-wise payroll addition by contributing 22.77% of the total net payroll. Overall, the top five states/UTs—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Haryana—accounted for nearly 59.98% of the net addition, collectively adding around 10.73 lakh members.
Industry Trends:
Industry-wise data indicates notable growth in sectors such as expert services (including manpower suppliers, contractors, and security services), financing establishments, engineering products, road transport, beedi making, and fruit and vegetable preservation. Notably, expert services alone contributed approximately 39.86% of the total net additions.
