August 28, 2024 — In a surprising move, Apple has laid off about 100 employees across its Apple Books and Apple News divisions as the company shifts its strategic priorities within its services sector. Layoffs at Apple are uncommon, especially given the company's ability to avoid mass reductions in workforce during the post-COVID period when many tech giants faced substantial cuts.
According to Bloomberg, the bulk of the layoffs affected the Apple Books team, although Apple News was also impacted. Despite the cuts, these services aren't being discontinued; in fact, new features are reportedly in development for both platforms. However, Apple has decided to focus its resources elsewhere, leading to the downsizing of these teams.
The decision to deprioritize Apple Books is notable, considering the company's previous investments in expanding its digital content offerings. Meanwhile, the layoffs in Apple News come as a surprise, particularly because this division generates a significant portion of Apple's advertising revenue.
This marks one of the few instances of layoffs within Apple in 2024. The most substantial reduction in workforce occurred earlier this year with the dissolution of the Apple Car project in April, which resulted in 600 employees losing their jobs. The recent layoffs are seen as part of a broader strategic realignment rather than a sign of deeper financial trouble.
Apple's ability to navigate economic challenges while maintaining a relatively stable workforce has been a hallmark of its operations, making these recent layoffs all the more significant. The company is expected to continue evolving its services strategy, with further developments likely to unfold in the coming months.