Apple says iOS apps created some 300,000 US jobs since April 2019
Developers have adapted during the coronavirus pandemic, the company says.
Apps have been "critical" in Americans' lives during the coronavirus pandemic, Apple said.
Apple on Wednesday highlighted the estimated number of US jobs created by its iOS app ecosystem. It comes as the company battles Fortnite developer Epic over App Store commission rates, which can be as high as 30%.
The iOS app economy has created almost 300,000 new jobs since April 2019 and supports more than 2.1 million US jobs across all 50 states, Apple estimated in a blog post that cited research by Washington DC-based think tank Progressive Policy Institute. Most of these jobs are concentrated in states on the East and West coasts, as well as in Texas, while the Midwest has the fewest.
Apps have proven critical for Americans adapting to life during the coronavirus pandemic, Apple said, whether it's ordering food remotely, stay-at-home education or telehealth. As a result, the company noted, developers' jobs have remained sustainable even as many Americans lose their jobs.
Big companies like Epic and Facebook have fought Apple's commission rates. Epic's megahit Fortnite was removed from the App Store last month after the developer created a direct payment plan allowing players to circumvent Apple's 30% fee, and then Facebook's attempt to tell people about the fee was blocked by Apple.
In July, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the company's policies in a US congressional hearing. The European Competition Commission opened an antitrust probe into the App Store in June, following music streaming service Spotify's complaint about the fees Apple charges companies when people make in-app purchases.
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