<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Olsten
Corporation  and  Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets at March 29,  1998
(unaudited) and Olsten Corporation and Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Statements of
Income for the three months ended March 29, 1998 (unaudited) and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                      MAR-29-1998
<CASH>                                                 29,910
<SECURITIES>                                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         878,208       
<ALLOWANCES>                                           22,279      
<INVENTORY>                                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       93,672       
<PP&E>                                                325,870       
<DEPRECIATION>                                        138,197      
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,704,512         
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 312,815      
<BONDS>                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                8,131     
<OTHER-SE>                                            839,720       
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        1,704,512         
<SALES>                                             1,049,942         
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    1,049,942         
<CGS>                                                 783,885         
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         783,885         
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                            0    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      6,812      
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        23,291      
<INCOME-TAX>                                            9,026      
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    12,801      
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                           12,801      
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             .16   
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             .16