Apple Lays Off Around 100 Services Staff Across Apple Books and News

As part of a "shift in priorities," Apple has made cuts to its workforce across senior VP Eddy Cue's Services division, Bloomberg reports. About 100 employees impacted by the cuts were reportedly given a 60-day window to secure another position within Apple before their termination becomes effective.

apple books
The scope of the layoffs extended beyond a single team, with some employees working across multiple departments feeling the ripple effects of Apple's apparent cost-optimization effort. The layoffs primarily affected the Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore teams, but also impacted the Apple News team, marking the fourth round of staff reductions for the company in 2024.

According to the report, the layoffs signal that Apple Books has become less of a priority for the company, which doesn't see it as a major part of its services lineup. However, the Books app is still expected to get new features over time. As for Apple News, the layoffs were said to be an indication that it is less of a focus for Apple.

The Services division has been a key growth driver for the company in recent years. Services now account for over 22% of Apple's sales, a significant increase from less than 10% a decade ago.

The importance of the Services segment has been particularly evident during periods of slower device sales, helping to bolster Apple's financial performance. However, this latest move suggests that even high-performing divisions are not immune to restructuring efforts.

These layoffs follow earlier staff reductions at Apple this year, including the closure of its ambitious self-driving car project and the shutdown of a microLED display initiative. The company also dismantled a team based in San Diego.

Apple's approach to layoffs has been more measured compared to some of its Silicon Valley counterparts. Cisco Systems has announced plans to reduce its headcount by approximately 7%, while Intel is set to eliminate over 15% of its workforce. These more extensive cuts at other tech firms are largely attributed to slowing growth and a shift in focus towards AI.

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Top Rated Comments

S.B.G Avatar
8 months ago
I never like to see anyone lose their jobs. I hope those folks can secure another job within the company, or find work elsewhere without too much trouble.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jamie0003 Avatar
8 months ago
Apple Books could have been so much more with apples hardware and software, but has been abandoned for a long while now.

Also seems mad they never bothered with an audible conpetitor
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJR Avatar
8 months ago
This is spreading everywhere in tech apparently. Even in my little world the next cycle suggests a few positions may not be filled and a few cut...... announced yesterday. I'm not feeling positive about many economic indicators I see out there.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
8 months ago

This is spreading everywhere in tech apparently. Even in my little world the next cycle suggests a few positions may not be filled and a few cut...... announced yesterday. I'm not feeling positive about many economic indicators I see out there.
It may be happening in tech, but it's the opposite in other industries. I'm in healthcare and we have been increasing our hiring, not laying people off.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
8 months ago
When Steve Jobs announced the iPad, it came with a better Books app. I could export highlights in bulk, now I can't. The options to change fonts, font size, brightness, and so were all easier.

So, is it a cost-cutting Timmie thing or was it because these particular services aren't doing well?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
8 months ago
Apple hasn't been doing much with Books and I was hoping that it would do more, such as adding a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited. As for Apple News, it has been a good service for me.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)