15.43 Lakh New Employees, Including 3.35 Lakh Women, Enrolled Under ESI Scheme in February

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has reported a robust addition of 15.43 lakh new employees under the ESI Scheme during February 2025. According to the provisional payroll data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the expansion highlights an encouraging trend in workforce formalisation and access to social security.

Additionally, 23,526 new establishments were brought under the ESI Scheme’s ambit in February, thereby extending social security benefits to a wider section of the workforce.

Youth Constitutes Nearly Half of New Registrations

An analysis of the new registrations reveals that the younger workforce is dominating enrolments. Approximately 7.36 lakh employees, amounting to around 47.7% of the total, belong to the age group of up to 25 years. This trend suggests that a significant number of young individuals are entering the formal workforce, often for their first employment, highlighting positive employment generation.

Increased Participation of Women and Transgender Employees

The gender-wise breakdown of enrolments indicates that 3.35 lakh women employees were newly registered under the ESI Scheme in February. In a notable step towards inclusivity, 74 transgender employees were also enrolled during the month. These efforts underline a broader commitment to extending social security benefits across all sections of society.

Continuous Revision of Payroll Data

It is important to note that the payroll data released is provisional. As data generation remains a continuous process, figures may be revised as more information becomes available in subsequent months.

EPFO Payroll Data Reflects Similar Trends

The ESIC figures follow closely after the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) released its payroll data earlier in the week, showing a net addition of 16.10 lakh members in February 2025. The year-on-year analysis highlights a 3.99% growth in net payroll additions compared to February of the previous year, indicating a rise in employment opportunities and greater awareness of employee benefits.

Read More: EPFO 3.0 Set to Launch by May-June: Will It Ease Withdrawal Challenges?. 

Conclusion

Within the EPFO enrolments, around 7.39 lakh new subscribers were recorded in February, with the 18-25 age group comprising a dominant 57.71% share. Approximately 4.27 lakh new subscribers were added within this young cohort, reflecting a continuation of the trend where fresh entrants into the organised workforce are predominantly young individuals securing their first jobs. Moreover, the net payroll addition for this age group saw a growth of 3.01 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.