The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) released provisional payroll data for March 2025, revealing a net addition of 14.58 lakh members during the month. This growth represents a 1.15% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to March 2024, indicating a positive trajectory in employment and heightened awareness about employee benefits across India.

Strong New Subscriber Growth

In March 2025 alone, 7.54 lakh new subscribers joined the EPFO, reflecting a 2.03% month-on-month (MoM) rise from February 2025 and a 0.98% YoY increase. This steady inflow of fresh members underscores a continued expansion of formal employment opportunities in India’s organised sector.

A closer look at the age-wise distribution shows the 18-25 age group driving this growth. This cohort accounted for 58.94% of new subscribers, translating to 4.45 lakh additions. Compared to the previous month, this segment experienced a 4.21% increase, and a 4.73% rise over the previous year. The net payroll addition within this age group reached approximately 6.68 lakh, growing 6.49% YoY, confirming the youth as the primary entrants into the organised workforce.

Returning Workforce and Female Participation

The data also revealed a return of 13.23 lakh rejoined members in March 2025. This represented a 0.39% monthly and a significant 12.17% annual increase, indicative of job switches and members transferring their provident fund accounts to maintain continuity of social security benefits.

Female participation continues to show positive momentum. New female subscribers in March 2025 numbered 2.08 lakh, marking a 0.18% monthly and 4.18% annual growth. The net female payroll additions stood at 2.92 lakh, showing a 0.78% YoY rise. These figures suggest a gradual shift towards a more inclusive workforce with increasing female employment in organised sectors.

State-wise and Industry Trends

Among Indian states and Union Territories (UTs), Maharashtra led the way, contributing 20.24% of the total net payroll additions during March 2025. Other notable contributors—each accounting for more than 5% of net payroll growth—include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. Together, the top five states and UTs accounted for 59.67% of the new payroll additions, reflecting concentrated industrial and service sector growth in these regions.

Industry-wise, several sectors demonstrated significant growth. Noteworthy among these are restaurants, cement, general insurance, canteens, forwarding agencies, travel agencies, and hotels. A major portion of the payroll increase—45.59%—came from the expert services sector, highlighting the growing demand for skilled professionals and specialized services in India’s evolving economy.

Provisional Nature of Data

The EPFO emphasised that the payroll data remains provisional, as records are continuously updated to accommodate late filings, modifications, and exits from membership. This ensures the dynamic and accurate reflection of employment trends across sectors and geographies.

Significance of the Data

The positive trends in EPFO membership numbers signal growing formal employment opportunities in India’s organised sector, supported by the government’s initiatives to expand social security coverage and enhance awareness about provident fund benefits.

The prominence of the youth demographic reaffirms the critical role of young workers entering the workforce, while the steady growth in female participation points to gradual improvements in workforce inclusivity.

With states like Maharashtra leading in net payroll additions, regional economic hubs continue to expand their employment base, contributing significantly to India’s overall economic growth and social security net.

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