Despite the good news regarding Apple’s 2009 Q2 earnings, from $1.45 billion in Q208 to $1.47 billion in Q209, SEC filings reveal that the company has dropped 1,600 employees from it's Apple retail locations.

The recent lay-offs may be connected to the fact that Apple already had the intention of reducing hours available to part-time workers to prepare for the inevitable global economic recession. However, cuts may have also been brought on by declining average revenue per store, which fell $1.2 million. Additionally, Apple opened 45 new stores during 2008, adding on a detrimental real estate burden.

Regardless of these cuts, the company plans to open a total of 25 new stores this year.

UPDATE: So Apple cut 1,600 full-time equivalent employees not actual people employees according to All Things Digital.  Peter Kafka over at All Things Digital reports that this term is used to report man-hours and not actual employees. His inquiry to Apple about the Full-time Equivalent Employee vs. Full-time Employee yielded only a directive from Apple to view their 10-Q.

Thanks to Snookie for the heads up.