<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001017968 <NAME> StaffMark <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.00 <CASH> 13,856,422 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 21,506,272 <ALLOWANCES> 441,397 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 36,498,805 <PP&E> 7,458,227 <DEPRECIATION> 3,454,589 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 71,498,231 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,448,336 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 134,170 <OTHER-SE> 57,975,909 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 71,498,231 <SALES> 104,476,109 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 104,476,109 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 81,606,986 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15,997,569 <LOSS-PROVISION> 206,123 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,375,879 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,796,629 <INCOME-TAX> 1,773,833 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,022,796 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,022,796 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.67 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.67