<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000105634 <NAME> EMCOR GROUP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 54,820 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 422,306 <ALLOWANCES> 11,804 <INVENTORY> 9,519 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 607,803 <PP&E> 39,496 <DEPRECIATION> 13,663 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 687,179 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 503,038 <BONDS> 70,354 <COMMON> 94 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 66,556 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 687,179 <SALES> 382,744 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 382,744 <CGS> 345,572 <TOTAL-COSTS> 382,215 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 128 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,761 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,232) <INCOME-TAX> 421 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (3,653) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,653) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.37) <EPS-DILUTED> (.37)