The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) announced its highest-ever monthly net addition of 20.06 lakh members in May 2025, marking a historic milestone since the implementation of payroll data tracking in April 2018. This represents a 4.79% increase over April 2025 and a 2.84% year-on-year increase from May 2024.

Key Highlights

• EPFO added a historic 20.06 lakh net members in May, led by 9.42 lakh new subscribers.
• Youth aged 18–25 contributed 5.60 lakh (59%) additions, with 2.62 lakh women joining the workforce. 

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, attributed this achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-youth, pro-worker reforms, emphasizing that the government's continued focus on ease of doing business and inclusive growth is fueling formal employment expansion.

"This is a testament to the strengthening of India's organized workforce and the government's commitment to building a robust labour ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat," Mandaviya told reporters.

Key Highlights of EPFO Payroll Data

New Members Enrolled: EPFO enrolled 9.42 lakh new subscribers, representing an 11.04% increase over April 2025, indicating increased employment opportunities and greater awareness of social security benefits.

Youth Employment Trends: The 18-25 age group accounted for 5.60 lakh new additions, or 59.48% of all new members. This represents a 14.53% monthly increase and continues the trend of young, first-time job seekers entering the organized workforce.

Rejoined Members: 16.11 lakh EPFO members returned after previous exits, representing a 2.12% increase over April and a robust 14.27% year-on-year growth. These figures show increased job mobility while maintaining long-term social security coverage. 

Women's Workforce Participation: Female enrolment increased steadily, with 2.62 lakh new subscribers in May, up 7.08% from April. Net female payroll additions totaled 4.25 lakh, up 15.04% year on year, reflecting increased female participation in the formal economy.

Also Read: EPFO May Enable Direct EPF Withdrawals Through ATMs and UPI Soon

State-Based Performance

The top contributors to net payroll additions were Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, accounting for nearly 60% of the total. Maharashtra alone contributed 20.33 percent of the new payroll.