<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains financial information extracted from the consolidated financial statements of CDI Corp. and Subsidiaries and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 8,872 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 324,620 <ALLOWANCES> 4,926 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 352,057 <PP&E> 83,643 <DEPRECIATION> 55,482 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 433,967 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,449 <BONDS> 33,655 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,995 <OTHER-SE> 233,975 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 433,967 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 767,613 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 578,887 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 431 <INCOME-PRETAX> 33,427 <INCOME-TAX> 13,037 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,078 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 20,078 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.01