Apple is laying off employees across its sales teams in a surprising move.

The layoffs affected multiple positions, including account managers working with Apple's business clients, educational institutions, and government bodies. Staff responsible for product demonstrations and briefing centers for large clients were also impacted.

Reports indicate that some sales teams experienced significant losses, and Apple did not specify which roles were affected. The job cuts impacted the entire sales division, which reports to CEO Tim Cook and is managed by VP Mike Fenger, with Vivek Thakkar overseeing enterprise and education sales.

An Apple representative stated the company is adjusting its sales teams to better connect with customers, affecting a limited number of roles. The representative added that Apple is still hiring and that impacted employees can apply for other positions within the company. The layoffs were unexpected, especially considering Apple's substantial revenue growth and projected record-breaking sales of $140 billion for the December quarter.

Two weeks prior, Apple eliminated 20 sales team positions in Australia and New Zealand. This move is surprising, considering Apple's rumored development of a budget-friendly laptop suitable for the business and education sectors, areas affected by the layoffs.

Apple has given laid-off employees until January 20th to find another position within the company; otherwise, they will be terminated and receive severance packages. Some of the departing employees have been with Apple for two to three decades.

One of the impacted teams was the sales team supporting U.S. government agencies, including the Defense Department and the Department of Justice. This team was already under pressure due to events such as the 43-day government shutdown and prior job cuts imposed on Apple.

Apple is framing the layoffs as an effort to streamline its sales teams and eliminate redundancies. However, some former employees claim that Apple aims to increase sales through third-party resellers, or the channel. This shift could reduce salary expenses and potentially boost sales, as some organizations prefer working with resellers.

Last year, Apple laid off a large number of employees due to an economic downturn and canceled projects, like its self-driving car. Employees in the Services division, Apple's second-largest after the iPhone, and its AI unit were also affected last year.