<span style="color: #222222;">The provisional payroll data of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation published on Saturday highlights a positive trend for net subscribers base growth with addition of 12.54 lakh subscribers in the month of December 2020. The data reflects increase of 44 per cent in net subscribers addition over the previous month of November, 2020. Year on year comparison of payroll data shows 24 per cent growth for December 2020, indicating return to the pre-COVID levels of subscriber growth for EPFO.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Despite COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO added around 53.70 lakh subscribers during the first three quarters of the current financial year. The 3rd quarter of current financial year has registered a robust 22 per cent growth over the 2nd quarter in terms of net payroll addition. Growing trend in EPFO payroll numbers and the accelerated expansion of the subion base may partly be attributed to recent e-initiatives taken by EPFO for seamless and uninterrupted service delivery in addition to the policy support for formalization of the economy through Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) and Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) schemes of Government of India, amid COVID -19 pandemic.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In December last year, around 8.04 lakh new members have been covered under the ambit of EPFO. Roughly, 4.5 lakh net members exited and then rejoined EPFO indicating switching of jobs by the subscribers within the establishments covered by EPFO and subscribers choosing to retain membership by transferring funds rather than opting for final settlement. Increase in the number of members rejoining indicates that workers are returning to their jobs with decline in active COVID-19 cases in India. Further, auto-transfer facility initiated by EPFO enabled hassle-free transfer of PF balance from the old account to the new account on change of job ensuring continuity of membership in many cases.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Age-wise analysis indicates that during December 2020 also, the age-bracket of 22 to 25 years has registered substantial growth in subscriber base with around 3.36 lakh net enrollments. This was followed by 18 to 21 year-age-bracket with around 2.81 lakh net enrollments. This age-group signifies a crucial stage of independence, the application of academic learning, social and economic productivity as well as sets the stage for an individual's potential in terms of earning capacity. As per data, 18 to 25 age-groups have contributed to the tune of around 49.19 per cent of the total subscriber additions in December 2020.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The payroll statistics across the states comparison shows that states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka continue to lead in employment generation by adding 29.12 lakh net subscribers out of 53.70 lakh during the current financial year across all the age-groups.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Industry-wise analysis indicates that 'expert services' category which primarily includes manpower agencies, private security agencies and small contractors continues to be the best performer. Out of 46.26 lakh net payroll additions in top ten industry categories, expert services category contributed 26.94 lakh subscribers from April to December 2020 across all age groups.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Gender-wise analysis of payroll data for the month of December 2020 shows that the share of females enrolment is approximately 22.76 per cent. Out of total 8.04 lakh net subscribers joined the EPF Scheme in the month of December 2020, total 1.83 lakh were women. Enrolment of women in job market continued to improve during the month as it was 1.52 lakh in the month of November 2020.</span><br />''