Technology major Apple has raised its full-time employee count by 2,300 to 34,300 for the year ended September 2009, at a time when many companies worldwide slashed their workforce in the wake of the financial crisis.
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For the September 2009 financial year, the company had nearly 34,300 full-time equivalent employees and 2,500 temporary equivalent workers and contractors, according to its annual report.
The firm had about 32,000 full-time people and 3,100 temporary employees and contractors, for the year ended September 2008.
The total head count at Apple -- including full-time and temporary people and contractors -- shot up to 36,800 for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009. In the comparable period, the same stood at 35,100.
Interestingly, the year ended September was also the time when companies worldwide slashed thousands of jobs as part of their efforts to bring down costs. The entities which resorted to layoffs include Dell, Microsoft, General Motors and Caterpillar.
Moreover, the unemployment rate in the US touched a 26-year-high of 9.8 per cent in September.
Despite the adverse economic situation, Apple's net sales surged over 12 per cent to $36.5 billion for the year ended
September 2009, mainly boosted by increased sales of iPhone and Mac computers. During the same period, profits rose to $5.7 billion.
