<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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS' LEGEND.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                             199                     199
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   66,443                  66,443
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,549                   2,549
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                71,661                  71,661
<PP&E>                                          18,944                  18,944
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,022                   7,022
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 200,954                 200,954
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           37,372                  37,372
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           152                     152
<OTHER-SE>                                      83,047                  83,047
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   200,954                 200,954
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                77,880                 235,889
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   54,265                 166,999
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                18,929                  57,533
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,375                   5,146
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,310                   6,210
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,132                   2,721
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,178                   3,489
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,178                   3,489
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.08                    0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08                    0.23


</TABLE>