Apple Stores Lose 1,600 Jobs

Apple Computer’s Apple Store retail chain laid off the equivalent of 1,600 full-time jobs in Q2.

Average revenue per store had fallen to $5.9 million, from $7.1 million in 2008.

Apple Stores employ 14,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from 15,600 at the end of Q1.

The company will still open new stores in 2009, but fewer than anticipated.

The Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple, selling Apple-made computers and consumer electronics, plus software. As of February 2009, Apple has opened 251 stores; 208 in 41 US states, 20 in the United Kingdom, nine in Canada, seven in Japan, three in Australia, two in Switzerland and one each in Italy, Germany and China.