<ARTICLE>      5
<LEGEND>
               THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               EXTRACTED FROM APAC CUSTOMER SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF OCTOBER 3, 1999 AND FOR THE
               THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1999 CONTAINED IN THE
               COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
               OCTOBER 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
               REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000

                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               Jan-02-2000     Jan-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    Oct-03-1999     Sep-27-1998<F1>
<CASH>                                               250          13,017
<SECURITIES>                                           0               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     86,955          80,839
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0               0
<INVENTORY>                                            0               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 112,710         120,692
<PP&E>                                           139,656         153,340
<DEPRECIATION>                                    67,162          57,829
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   244,670         352,684
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             70,483          78,871
<BONDS>                                          120,104         137,143
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0               0
<PREFERRED>                                            0               0
<COMMON>                                             490             489
<OTHER-SE>                                        44,699         125,055
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     244,670         352,684
<SALES>                                                0               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 313,584         309,999
<CGS>                                                  0               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    254,550         247,195
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  43,589          46,661
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                10,372           5,155
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    5,073          10,988
<INCOME-TAX>                                       2,200           4,980
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                2,873           6,008
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0          (1,256)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0               0
<CHANGES>                                              0               0
<NET-INCOME>                                       2,873           4,752
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.06            0.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.06            0.10

<FN>
<F1> Period ended September 27, 1998, reclassified for discontinued operations
     to conform to current year's classifications.