Apple cuts sales roles in rare move as tech layoffs widen

Apple has begun cutting a small number of jobs across its sales organisation, marking a rare workforce reduction at a company that has long avoided the deep layoffs seen across Silicon Valley.

Global technology companies have spent much of the year cutting costs, slowing hiring and restructuring teams. Apple, which has largely held off from similar moves, has now joined the list with targeted reductions.

A Reuters report said on Monday that Apple is trimming roles across its sales division as part of a broader effort to improve how it engages with customers. The company stressed that only a limited number of employees are affected and that it continues to hire in other areas. Impacted staff, it added, will be able to apply for new roles within the organisation.

Bloomberg, which first reported the cuts, said the departures include account managers handling major corporate clients, educational institutions and government agencies. Staff at Apple’s briefing centres—venues used to host demonstrations for enterprise customers—were also affected.

One of the steepest cuts reportedly hit the company’s government sales team, which supports agencies such as the US Defense Department and the Justice Department. Bloomberg noted that the group had already been operating in a challenging environment following a 43-day US government shutdown and budget reductions imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Apple has not disclosed how many roles are being eliminated or which geographies are involved.

The decision comes as several large US companies embark on new rounds of workforce reductions. Verizon, Synopsys and IBM have all announced job cuts in recent weeks as firms respond to slower growth and more cautious enterprise spending.

While Apple has avoided the sweeping layoffs undertaken by many of its peers, the move underscores the tightening conditions across the tech industry. Companies to keep prioritising productivity gains and cost discipline as uncertainty over economic momentum persists into next year.