Published in the Denver Business Journal....

The number of Coloradans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The number of Coloradans receiving continued unemployment benefits also fell, to 54,293, down nearly 27 percent from mid-July and at the lowest level seen since January 2009.

A total of 3,143 people filed for new benefits in Colorado during the week ended Sept. 11, the smallest number since the week ended Sept. 27, 2008. The four-week moving average, which smooths out fluctuations, was 3,594, down from 3,838 in the previous four-week period.

Nationwide, initial jobless claims rose unexpectedly by 12,000 to 465,000 last week, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. State initial unemployment claims data lags national data by a week.

In a growing economy, jobless claims normally drop below 400,000 per week nationwide. Although national jobless claims have been trending downward, recovery has been slow.

This week, the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the recession officially ended in June 2009.

Meanwhile, the number of Coloradans who have been receiving unemployment benefits for more than one week continued to decline. It's now down by nearly 20,000 from 74,026 in the week ended July 17.