<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Olsten
Corporation and Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Balance Sheets at September 28, 1997
(unaudited) and Olsten Corporation and Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Statements of
Income for the nine months ended September 28, 1997 (unaudited) and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                      SEP-28-1997
<CASH>                                                 33,564
<SECURITIES>                                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         863,773
<ALLOWANCES>                                           31,680
<INVENTORY>                                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      955,723
<PP&E>                                                296,354
<DEPRECIATION>                                        123,671
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,678,969
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 295,919
<BONDS>                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                8,129
<OTHER-SE>                                            826,123
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        1,678,969
<SALES>                                             3,028,519
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    3,028,519
<CGS>                                               2,220,043
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       2,220,043
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     18,080
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       118,899
<INCOME-TAX>                                           46,371
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    69,753
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                           69,753
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             .86