Apple boosts payroll 48 percent in fiscal 2008

Apple Inc. boosted the number of workers on its payroll by 48 percent in the 2008 fiscal year, a period that saw robust iPod sales and the staggeringly successful launch of a new iPhone.

In a Securities and Exchange filing Wednesday, company said it employed 32,000 full-time workers and 3,100 temporary employees and contractors as of Sept. 27. In fiscal 2007, Apple claimed 21,600 full-time employees and 2,100 temporary and contract workers. The increase was reported early Wednesday by technology blog TechFlash.com.

Eight thousand of those people went to work in Apple's retail segment, which opened 50 new stores in 2008, according to the filing. Apple spokesman Steve Dowling would not say what divisions hired the remaining 3,400 new workers.

Research and development expenses in 2008 also jumped from the year before. Apple said it spent $1.1. billion, a 40 percent increase from 2007.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said in October that its 2008 earnings climbed 38 percent to $4.83 billion. People snapped up 6.9 million iPhone 3Gs during its first full quarter on the market.

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On the Net:

Complete SEC filing:

http://tinyurl.com/6da2y3

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