Saving Yourself When Out of Work, Out of Luck

Americans are wading through a job market where seekers now outnumber published openings six to one -- a record ratio -- as 14.5 million unemployed people compete for 2.4 million jobs. News stories of middle-class families losing everything have become all too common. Many companies, nervous about growth prospects in the foreseeable future, are holding back on hiring. Are better times just around...