Over 60% of new subscribers in July 2025 were young workers aged 18–25: EPFO

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for July 2025 highlights that most employees are young and fall within the 18–25 age group.

Of the 9.79 lakh new EPFO subscribers enrolled during the month, around 5.98 lakh, or over 60%, belonged to the 18–25 age group. This clearly indicates that the country’s youth, particularly first-time job seekers, are increasingly entering formal employment and opting for social security benefits early in their careers.

According to the PIB press release, the net payroll addition for this young cohort was even higher, at approximately 9.13 lakh, marking a 4.09% growth over July 2024. This trend is consistent with previous years, showing that young professionals are essentially driving organised employment in India.

Alongside youth participation, the data also indicates positive shifts in gender representation. Around 2.8 lakh new female subscribers joined EPFO in July, contributing to a net female payroll increase of 4.42 lakh. Although growth is modest compared to overall figures, it highlights the ongoing move towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

State-wise analysis reveals that certain regions are leading the growth in formal employment. Maharashtra topped the list, accounting for over 20% of net payroll additions, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, each contributing more than 5%. Overall, the top five states and union territories together accounted for nearly 61% of net payroll growth during the month.

An intriguing aspect of July 2025 data is the rejoining trend, with about 16.43 lakh members who previously left the EPFO rejoining. This reflects job-switching behaviours and employees’ desire to safeguard their accrued benefits.

Since April 2018, EPFO has been publishing payroll data starting from September 2017. The monthly payroll figures include the number of members who join EPFO for the first time via Aadhaar-validated Universal Account Number (UAN), as well as existing members who leave EPFO coverage and those who exit and then re-join, to calculate the net monthly payroll, as per the PIB press release.