<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF METRO INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. AS PRESENTED IN THE
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS' LEGEND.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                          19,507                  19,507
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   33,020                  33,020
<ALLOWANCES>                                       131                     131
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                53,767                  53,767
<PP&E>                                          12,135                  12,135
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,069                   4,069
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  67,254                  67,254
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           14,055                  14,055
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           149                     149
<OTHER-SE>                                      36,798                  36,798
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    67,254                  67,254
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                52,391                  99,500
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   36,016                  68,779
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,660                  20,343
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,931                  10,762
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,372                   4,305
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,559                   6,457
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,559                   6,457
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.24                    0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.24                    0.43
        

</TABLE>