<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001013149 <NAME> ICT GROUP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 16,787 20,070 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,557 13,716 <ALLOWANCES> 562 289 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 34,580 35,111 <PP&E> 30,253 17,432 <DEPRECIATION> 12,440 8,178 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 57,042 49,708 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,461 6,384 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 115 115 <OTHER-SE> 42,476 41,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 57,042 49,708 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,072 51,887 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 35,861 27,906 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 26,543 34,603 <LOSS-PROVISION> 139 133 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (344) 302 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,873 (11,057) <INCOME-TAX> 1,123 (3,977) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,750 (7,849) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,750 (7,849) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.14 (0.71) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.14 (0.71)