EPFO adds 20.06 lakh net members in May, records all-time highest addition; female membership grows by 7%

The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) recorded a net addition of 20.06 lakh members in May 2025, marking the highest recorded addition since the retirement fund organisation started tracking payroll data in 2018, Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a release on Monday, July 21.

The May 2025 net addition is up 4.79% as compared to April and 2.84% from May 2024, the provisional payroll data showed.

This highlights growth in employment opportunities and improved awareness of employee benefits driven by EPFO’s effective outreach initiatives, the release stated.

Commenting on the milestone, Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “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.”

EPFO May 2025 Payroll Data: Key highlights

The EPFO enrolled nearly 9.42 lakh new subscribers in May 2025, up 11.04% as compared to April 2025. The age group of 18 to 25 led the payroll addition, adding 5.60 lakh new subscribers and making up for a staggering 59.48% of the total new subscribers added during May. The new subscribers in this age group added in May depicted a jump of 14.53% against April.

Additionally, the net payroll addition for the age group 18-25 for May stood at around 8.73 lakh, up 15.10% from April. However, on a YoY basis, the net payroll addition in this age group increased marginally by 0.11%.

As many as 16.11 lakh members rejoined EPFO in May 2025, increasing by 2.12% when compared to April 2025, and by 14.27% YoY. “These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under the ambit of EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement, thus safeguarding long-term financial well-being and extending their social security protection,” the release said.

Nearly 2.62 lakhs new female members joined the EPFO in May, up 7.08% from April and 5.84% YoY from May 2024. The net female payroll addition during May was at 4.25 lakh, rising 7.54% from April and 15.04% from May 2024.

As per a state-wise analysis, the top five states/union territories added a total of 12.03 lakh subscribers in May, accounting for nearly 59.98% of net payroll addition. Maharashtra led the pack with adding 20.33% of net payroll during May.

Industry-wise trends showed that around 44.61% of the total net payroll addition came from expert services (manpower supplies, security services, etc).