<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

         This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
         Company's  balance sheets and related  statements of operations for the
         year ended  December  31,  1999 and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
         reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

          <MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                                                 
          <PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
          <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1999
          <PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1999
          <CASH>                                            550
          <SECURITIES>                                        0
          <RECEIVABLES>                                  30,216
          <INVENTORY>                                         0
          <ALLOWANCES>                                        0
          <CURRENT-ASSETS>                               33,643
          <PP&E>                                          7,027
          <DEPRECIATION>                                      0
          <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 70,740
          <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          25,955
          <BONDS>                                             0
          <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
          <PREFERRED>                                         0
          <COMMON>                                           75
          <OTHER-SE>                                     37,254
          <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        0
          <SALES>                                             0
          <TOTAL-REVENUES>                              347,850
          <CGS>                                               0
          <TOTAL-COSTS>                                 310,354
          <OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
          <LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
          <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                633
          <INCOME-PRETAX>                                 8,833
          <INCOME-TAX>                                    3,684
          <INCOME-CONTINUING>                             5,149
          <DISCONTINUED>                                      0
          <EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
          <CHANGES>                                           0
          <NET-INCOME>                                    5,149
          <EPS-BASIC>                                       .68
          <EPS-DILUTED>                                     .68