Job growth probably picked up in May after the weakest gain insix months, and the U.S. unemployment rate held at a three-yearlow, signs of gradual improvement in the labor market, economistssaid before reports this week.

Payrolls climbed by 150,000 workers after a 115,000 gain inApril, according to the median forecast of 68 economists surveyedby Bloomberg News ahead of Labor Department figures due June 1.Manufacturing cooled and household purchases increased, other datamay show.

Bigger job and wage gains will probably be needed to trigger aself-sustaining cycle of increases in hiring and consumer spendingthat will spur the recovery. At the same time, slowdowns in Europeand parts of Asia threaten to curb exports and manufacturing,representing a barrier to faster growth.