The
Charente has 5,579 craft-based firms (01/01/05), with
11,911 salaried employees (Source: Charente Guild
Chamber on 21/01/05). If this is broken
down into main sectors, 2 areas stand out as significant
- building and services: Building
40 % Services
28 % (transport, repairs, services) Production
20 % (metalwork, textiles-leather-clothing,
wood and furnishings, other manufacturing) Food
12 % 71
% of company directors are aged between 40 and
59 years old.
The working
population employed in the craft industry stood at 17,900
on 01 January 2005, and can be broken down as follows:
31.16% were company directors (including 19% women),
66.54% salaried employees and 2.30% the
director's spouse.
Economy
/ Areas of business: 
Building
40 %
