Apple is reportedly planning to cut corporate retail roles as it looks to improve the upkeep of its retail stores. The move comes amid a wave of layoffs that have swept across the tech industry since last year, affecting big names such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet. However, until now, Apple had managed to avoid major layoffs.

The job cuts will affect the division responsible for the building and maintenance of Apple retail stores, and impacted employees have until the end of the week to apply for new roles within the company. Bloomberg and Insider reported the news on Monday, citing anonymous sources.

While it remains unclear how many people will be affected, Bloomberg reported that the number “is likely very small.” Apple had 164,000 employees globally as of September 2022, according to a securities filing.

The company is framing the layoffs as a way to improve its upkeep of stores. However, this move may come as a surprise to some, given that Apple had not experienced a significant hiring boom during the pandemic, unlike many of its competitors.

The tech sector has seen widespread layoffs in recent months, as companies reevaluate their workforce needs in the wake of the pandemic. Amazon, for example, announced in March that it was eliminating 9,000 positions in its second round of mass layoffs in recent months.

Apple has not announced any major layoffs, but the company has taken other cost-cutting measures. This move is part of a broader trend in the tech industry, as companies adjust their operations to better align with the post-pandemic reality.

It remains to be seen how these layoffs will impact Apple’s corporate retail teams and the company as a whole. However, Apple’s track record of innovation and success suggests that it will continue to adapt and thrive in the fast-paced world of technology.