New Delhi, April 25 -- Provisional payroll data from the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) indicates that approximately 1.54 million new employees joined India's workforce in February this year, about 15.17% lower than the previous month.

The ESIC recorded an approximate 2% increase in contributions from existing employees compared to the same month last year. A statement from the union ministry of labour and employment showed that total number of contributing members to the ESI scheme in February 2025 increased by 566,219 to 2.97 million from 2.91 million in the same month previous year.

The ministry said of the new additions, about 736,000 were young employees under the age of 25, showcasing a significant generation of job...