Apple has claimed its App Store has become a “powerful engine of economic growth” in the UK which supports more than a quarter of a million jobs.

Figures revealed by the tech giant this week show the App Store supports more than 330,000 jobs in the UK, an increase of around 10% on the previous year.

Similarly, developers across the country generated more revenue than ever before with £3.6 billion in total earnings – which also marks a 22% increase.

“In a year like no other, the UK has remained a vibrant and innovative hub for entrepreneurs and app developers,” said Christopher Moser, senior director of the App Store.

“More people in the UK than ever before are working as part of the iOS app ecosystem, creating exciting apps enjoyed by people all over the world.”

The publication of iOS developer statistics follows the launch of an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Earlier this month, the competition watchdog confirmed a new probe will examine the company’s market position and establish whether Apple App Store policies are inhibiting developers.

According to the CMA, the investigation follows a series of complaints from developers alleging unfair practices, particularly in regard to its policies on charging a commission for in-app purchases – an issue which sparked a lengthy legal battle with Fortnite developer, Epic Games.

In August 2020, the game developer was banned from the Apple App Store for attempting to bypass the company’s commission policies and sell virtual currency directly – and at a cheaper rate – to players.

Apple policies have also brought it to blows with other tech industry heavy hitters, including Facebook and Spotify.

In recent months, Facebook has raised concerns that Apple’s upcoming privacy features could damage the ad revenues which many developers heavily rely on.

Additionally, the firm is currently the subject of four antitrust probes by the European Commission, three of which also focus on App Store policies.

The tech giant appeared to touch on the lingering antitrust issues in its statement yesterday, highlighting the introduction of policies aimed at supporting smaller developers.

“UK developers benefit from the App Store Small Business Program’s reduced commission,” the company said. “Launched earlier this year, the industry-leading initiative cut in half the commission small developers pay.

“The savings have helped small developers grow their digital revenue and invest in the future of their businesses, so they can continue to build the quality apps customers love,” Apple added.

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The growth trends highlighted in the UK were “echoed across Europe”, Apple added. According to its own figures, the iOS app economy has expanded by 7% since 2019 and now supports 1.7 million jobs.

And while the UK leads Europe in iOS app developer jobs, France and Germany also boast sizeable populations of around 250,000 each.

According to Apple, growth in the UK iOS developer economy was driven heavily by health, fitness, entertainment, and learning apps.

“During the pandemic, people turned to UK workout apps like One You Couch to 5K, fitness plan app Fiit, and sleep support app Sleepiest Sleep Sounds Stories,” the company said.