<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FILER'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED APRIL 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN IT ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000916606 <NAME> PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 <CASH> 10,796 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 7,685,761 <ALLOWANCES> 190,825 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,447,975 <PP&E> 2,466,003 <DEPRECIATION> 1,198,174 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 17,367,199 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 4,635,716 <BONDS> 2,624,989 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,856,383 <OTHER-SE> 2,090,511 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 17,367,199 <SALES> 17,953,878 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 17,953,878 <CGS> 14,312,856 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,373,308 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,853,744 <LOSS-PROVISION> (30,870) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 124,105 <INCOME-PRETAX> 709,655 <INCOME-TAX> 341,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 368,255 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 368,255 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.18 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18