Apple layoffs: iPhone maker cut dozens of sales jobs to streamline workforce, eliminate overlapping roles

Core Insights - Apple Inc. has laid off dozens of sales workers in the United States, marking a rare job cut for the company despite its record high revenues expected to reach close to $140 billion in the December quarter [1][4] - The layoffs are part of a strategy to streamline the sales workforce and eliminate overlapping responsibilities, with a shift towards third-party resellers for sales [5][6] - Affected employees include account managers for schools, government agencies, and major businesses, as well as staff at briefing centers for institutional meetings [3][12] Company Actions - Apple confirmed the job cuts and stated that the changes affect a small number of roles, while also continuing to hire for new positions [2][4] - Laid-off employees have until January 20 to secure another position within the company or will receive a severance package [4] - The layoffs included long-time managers and employees with 20 to 30 years of service, particularly impacting the government sales team [6][9] Industry Context - Apple typically relies less on layoffs compared to other tech companies, with CEO Tim Cook previously stating that layoffs are a "last resort" [9][10] - The technology sector has seen widespread layoffs, with companies like Amazon and Meta also announcing significant job cuts recently [11]