Apple $AAPL ( ▲ 1.63% ) is trimming dozens of roles across its sales organization, a surprising move from a company that almost never leans on layoffs. The cuts target teams that sell to businesses, schools, and government agencies, including account managers and staff who run Apple’s briefing centers.
Apple confirmed the restructuring and said affected employees can apply for other roles inside the company. Workers have until January 20 to find a new spot or they will exit with severance.
The timing stands out. Apple is on track for nearly 140 billion dollars in holiday-quarter revenue, its best ever, and is preparing a new low-end laptop for early next year to boost education and enterprise sales.
Internally, leadership is pitching the changes as streamlining, though some employees believe Apple is shifting more sales through outside resellers to cut costs. The layoffs also hit members of a government sales team already strained by the recent 43-day shutdown and tight federal budgets.
Apple has historically avoided broad cuts, but it has eliminated roles tied to canceled projects like its self-driving car program and internal screen development. Across tech, layoffs remain far more common, with Amazon and Meta both announcing major reductions in recent weeks.their playbook, and even aging nuclear plants are getting a second look.