Chip sales drop

Linear Technology in Camas uses these wafers to create microchips. (Columbian files)

Worldwide sales of semiconductors fell 9.8 percent in November from a year earlier, marking the second month of sliding sales for an industry that employs more than 2,500 people in Clark County.

"The worldwide economic crisis is having an impact on demand for semiconductors," said George Scalise, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association. But the drop has not been consistent across all chip sectors, he said. Memory products have been particularly hard hit, according to the SIA.

Among Clark County chip industry manufacturers are WaferTech, Linear Technology and SEH America.