An economic recruiter in western North Carolina says the days of high employment in furniture plants are over because of imported goods being ordered by furniture companies.

Figures show that furniture employment in 18 western North Carolina counties fell from about 74-hundred, to 24-hundred-63 jobs, between 2000 and 2006.

There still are small furniture companies that produce handmade items.

Recruiter Ray Denny of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce says he has had one inquiry from a furniture maker looking to locate in the area over the past two and a half years.

Industry officials say buyers are concerned only with the price of an item, –not– where it was made. (AP)

Tags: Area, Asheville, Furniture, furniture maker, North Carolina, of Commerce, Price, Small, West,