New Delhi: The provisional payroll data released on 20th November, 2022 highlights that EPFO has added 16.82 lakh net members in the month of September, 2022. The year-on-year comparison of payroll data reflects an increase of 9.14 per cent in net membership addition in September, 2022 as compared to the corresponding month during last year in 2021.

The net enrolment during the month is 21.85 per cent higher than the monthly average recorded during the last fiscal. As per data, around 2861 new establishments have started complying under the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 ensuring social security cover to their employees.

Of the total 16.82 lakh members added during the month, around 9.34 lakh new members have come under the coverage of EPFO for the first time. Among the new members, the highest number was registered for the age group of 18-21 years with 2.94 lakh members. This was followed by the age group of 21-25 years with 2.54 lakh members.

Approximately 58.75 per cent are from the age-group of 18-25 years of age. This shows that first-time job seekers are joining the organized sector workforce in large numbers following their education and new jobs in the organized sector are largely going to the youth of the country.

During the month, approximately 7.49 lakh net members exited but rejoined EPFO by changing their jobs within the establishments covered by EPFO and opted to transfer their funds from previous PF account to the current account instead of opting for final settlement.

According to an official statement, the payroll data indicates that the number of members exiting from the coverage of EPFO has continuously declined during the past three months. Month-on-month comparison shows that around 9.65 per cent lesser members have exited EPFO during the month of September, 2022 as compared to the previous month.

Gender-wise analysis of payroll data indicates that enrolment of net female members has been 3.50 lakh in September, 2022. The year-on-year comparison of enrolment data shows that net membership of females in organized workforce has increased with a growth rate of 6.98 per cent in September, 2022 compared with the net female membership during previous year in September, 2021. Among the total new members joining EPFO during the month, enrolment of female workforce is recorded as 26.36 per cent.

The state-wise payroll figures highlight that month-on-month growing trend in net member addition was observed in states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa etc. The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi continue to remain in lead by adding approximately 11.41 lakh net members during the month, which is 67.85 per cent of total net payroll addition across all age groups. /BI/