<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000778397
<NAME> NORRELL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-02-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,647
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  211,190
<ALLOWANCES>                                     6,658
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               225,399
<PP&E>                                          54,618
<DEPRECIATION>                                  23,824
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 496,947
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          112,953
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           282
<OTHER-SE>                                     239,696
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   496,947
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               361,482
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  279,100
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,207
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,268
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,808
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,254
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,095
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,159
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,159
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .19

<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT SHOWN IN OTHER EXPENSES REPRESENTS YEAR 2000 COSTS FOR THE PERIOD.
</FN>