<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF NOVEMBER 2, 1996; THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 2, 1996; AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-02-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-29-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-02-1996
<CASH>                                            2849
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    75490
<ALLOWANCES>                                       769
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 87128
<PP&E>                                           34313
<DEPRECIATION>                                   15459
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  120780
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            55146
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           103
<OTHER-SE>                                       49149<F1><F2><F3><F4>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    120780
<SALES>                                         479205
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                482073
<CGS>                                           377136
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   466777
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (251)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   466
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                1167
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  14380
<INCOME-TAX>                                     11097<F1><F2><F3><F4>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               3283<F1><F2><F3><F4>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      3283<F1><F2><F3><F4>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1><F2><F3><F4>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>On May 3, 1996, the Company completed an initial public offering of 2,300,000
shares of common stock at $14.00 per share of which 1,500,000 shares were sold
by the Company and 800,000 shares were sold by certain of the Company's
stockholders. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,500,000
shares of common stock, after deduction of associated expenses, were $18,980.
Prior to the Offering, there was no public market for the Company's common
stock. The common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "WSTF".

Concurrent with the Offering, the Company effected a 1,542.01 for 1 stock
split, established a par value of $0.01 per share of common stock and increased
the authorized shares of common stock to 25,000,000. In addition, the Company
established a class of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, and
authorized 1,000,000 shares. No shares of the preferred stock are outstanding.

Prior to consummation of the Offering, the Company declared a dividend payable
to its current stockholders consisting of the lesser of the remaining
undistributed earnings of the Company, accumulated from November 1, 1987 to
April 30, 1996 (the effective date of the Company's S corporation termination)
which were subject to taxation at the stockholder level, or $5,000. The final
undistributed earnings of the Company from November 1, 1987 to April 30, 1996
totaled $11,142. The difference between the actual distribution of $5,000 and
the undistributed earnings of $11,142 has been reclassified for financial
reporting purposes from retained earnings to additional paid-in-capital.
<F2>On April 30, 1996, and in conjunction with the Offering, the Company elected to
terminate its S corporation status. In connection with the termination, the
Company is required by the Internal Revenue Service Code to change its method
of accounting for income tax reporting purposes from the cash basis to the
accrual basis. The termination resulted in a non-recurring net charge to
earnings of $7,460 in the third quarter of fiscal 1996. This charge was due
primarily to temporary differences resulting from the Company's historical use
of the cash method of accounting for income tax purposes. The income tax charge
relating to the change from the cash to accrual method was $12,574 and will be
payable in quarterly installments due over four years, with the initial
installment paid on August 15, 1996. This charge was partially offset by an
increase in the Company's deferred tax assets in the amount of $5,114.
<F3>Pro forma net income per common share represents income before
income taxes after a pro forma provision for federal and state income taxes as
if the Company had been subject to federal and state income taxation as a C
corporation during each of the periods presented, divided by the pro forma
weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. No
effect has been given to options outstanding under the Company's Stock Option
Plans as no material dilutive effect would result from the exercise of these
items. The pro forma weighted average shares outstanding give effect to the
common stock split and the additional shares issued to the principal
stockholder. Historical net income per share is not presented in view of prior
period S corporation status.
<F4>Prior to the Company's initial public offering completed May 3, 1996 ( the
Offering), the principal stockholder of the Parent owned minority interests in
each of the Parent's foreign and domestic subsidiaries and also owned
Kontorservice, Inc. (Norwegian Branch), a temporary personnel services company
doing business in Norway. Concurrent with the Offering, the Company issued
202,857 shares valued at $2,840 to the Company's principal stockholder in
exchange for the contribution of each of his minority interests and the capital
stock of the Norwegian Branch. Based on common control and management, these
minority interests and the Norwegian Branch have been combined with the
Company's financial statements for all prior periods presented in a manner
similar to a pooling of interests.
</FN>
        

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