DENVER (AP) -- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says layoffs of at least 50 workers from a single employer declined again in Colorado last year.

BLS economist Linda Nickisch says Colorado employers reported 104 mass layoffs in 2012, compared to 114 in 2011 and 153 in 2010. She adds that during the three years, the trend resulted in fewer initial claims for unemployment.

The Denver Post reports (http://bit.ly/VenNYh) 2012 saw 9,896 initial claims for unemployment -- down from 11,036 in 2011 and 13,915 in 2010.