Apple cuts 1600 from Apple Stores

The quarter wasn’t all roses for Apple.  Turns out, it has been reducing employee hours at the Apple Store to the tune of 1600 equivalent jobs.  We say ‘equivalent’ because not all workers were full time.  Currently Apple Retail employs 14,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from 15,600 at the end of Apple’s first fiscal quarter, according to a filing with the SEC.  The reduction of numbers wasn’t a result of any particular directive or massive layoff, Apple just slowed hiring as the normal high turnover of retail lowered job numbers.

The per store revenue fell to to $5.9 million from $7.1 million year over year.  Overall, revenue increased just 1 percent to $1.74 billion, yet 45 new stores having opened last year.  So, Apple wasn’t immune.  

While Apple is reducing numbers, they might want to consider some "turnover" in their iTunes Apps Store approvers.