<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD QUARTER 10 - Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10 - Q. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-01-1998 <CASH> 6,393 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 240,472 <ALLOWANCES> 1,216 <INVENTORY> 675 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 258,905 <PP&E> 47,418 <DEPRECIATION> 27,715 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 405,295 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 171,510 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 496 <OTHER-SE> 8,582 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 405,295 <SALES> 917,833 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 917,833 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 871,924 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,325 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,907 <INCOME-TAX> 6,590 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,885 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,885 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.97 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.94