Business Headlines: Robot Nation; First Night Funding

BOSTON (CBS) - Things are looking up, because the nation's unemployment is inching down, falling to its lowest level in more than two-and-a-half years last month.

If you were looking for a job in eastern Massachusetts, it paid to have technology skills.

Several local software firms such as Runkeeper are hiring new workers and Pfizer is also adding 160 to 220 new jobs to the Boston area.

ROBOT NATION

And robots haven't quite yet taken over the world, but they're definitely growing, at least in the Boston area.

The Mass Technology Leadership Council says there are now about 60 robotics companies here and they're being used in fields ranging from the military to medicine to interior design.

FIRST NIGHT FUNDING

But the future is not looking as bright for Boston's First Night celebration this year.

Corporate sponsorship for the event has dropped sharply in the past eight years.

It's down nearly $100,000 from seven years ago.

But, organizers are looking to foundations to help make up some of that funding.

Watch Lisa's report:

Lisa van der Pool of the Boston Business Journal can be seen weekdays at 6 a.m. on WBZ-TV.