UNITED STATES
                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           --------------

                              FORM 10-Q

                           --------------

             [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
           OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

            For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 1999

                     Commission File No. 0-21886


                   BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                 Maryland                        52-0812977

      (State or other jurisdiction of           (IRS Employer
      incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)

          4724 SW Macadam Avenue
             Portland, Oregon                       97201

 (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

                           (503) 220-0988

        (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

           Yes [ X ]      No [   ]

Number of shares of Common Stock,  $.01 par value  outstanding  at July 30, 1999
was 7,576,898 shares.




                   BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

                                INDEX

                                                                 Page
                                                                 ----

Part I - Financial Information

      Item 1.   Financial Statements

                Balance Sheets - June 30, 1999 and
                December 31, 1998.................................3

                Statements of Operations - Three Months
                Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998......................4

                Statements of Operations - Six Months
                Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998......................5

                Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months
                Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998......................6

                Notes to Financial Statements.....................7

      Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                Financial Condition and Results of
                Operations.......................................11

      Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure
                About Market Risk................................18

Part II - Other Information

      Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
                Holders..........................................19

      Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.................20

Signatures      .................................................21


Exhibit Index   .................................................22

                                       2


                         PART I - Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                 Balance Sheets
                                   (Unaudited)
                        (In thousands, except par value)

                                            June 30,    December 31,
                                              1999          1998
                                            --------    ------------
      Assets

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                 $   945       $ 4,029
   Trade accounts receivable, net             30,145        21,907
   Prepaid expenses and other                  1,694         1,103
   Deferred tax assets (Note 3)                1,761         1,857
                                              ------        ------
     Total current assets                     34,545        28,896
Intangibles, net                              23,116        11,508
Property and equipment, net                    6,132         5,184
Restricted marketable securities
 and workers' compensation deposits            6,364         6,004
Deferred tax assets (Note 3)                     716           552
Other assets                                   1,076           626
                                              ------        ------
                                             $71,949       $52,770
                                              ======        ======

      Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
   Notes payable                             $ 1,105       $     -
   Current portion of long-term debt           2,782            61
   Line of credit payable                      2,541             -
   Income taxes payable (Note 3)                   -           438
   Accounts payable                            1,706           948
   Accrued payroll, payroll taxes
    and related benefits                      15,744         9,246
   Accrued workers' compensation claims
    liabilities                                2,769         3,244
   Customer safety incentives payable          1,112         1,173
   Other accrued liabilities                     447           514
                                              ------        ------
      Total current liabilities               28,206        15,624
Long-term debt, net of current portion         5,632           503
Customer deposits                                798           829
Long-term workers' compensation liabilities      706           714
Other long-term liabilities                    1,691         1,398
                                              ------        ------
                                              37,033        19,068
                                              ------        ------
Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,500
    shares authorized, 7,581 and 7,676
    shares issued and outstanding,
    respectively                                  76            77
   Additional paid-in capital                 10,668        11,409
   Retained earnings                          24,172        22,216
                                              ------        ------
                                              34,916        33,702
                                              ------        ------
                                             $71,949       $52,770
                                              ======        ======

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       3


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                        June 30,
                                                 -------------------
                                                  1999         1998
                                                 ------       ------
Revenues:
   Staffing services                            $46,185      $42,786
   Professional employer services                38,522       33,865
                                                 ------       ------
                                                 84,707       76,651
                                                 ------       ------
Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs                          65,575       59,348
   Payroll taxes and benefits                     7,142        6,629
   Workers' compensation                          2,445        2,211
   Safety incentives                                403          336
                                                 ------       ------
                                                 75,565       68,524
                                                 ------       ------

Gross margin                                      9,142        8,127

Selling, general and administrative expenses      6,551        6,035
Merger expenses                                       -          750
Amortization of intangibles                         434          329
                                                 ------       ------

Income from operations                            2,157        1,013

Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                (105)         (60)
   Interest income                                   89          100
   Other, net                                         1            1
                                                 ------       ------
                                                    (15)          41
                                                 ------       ------

Income before provision for income taxes          2,142        1,054
Provision for income taxes (Note 3)                 926          454
                                                 ------       ------

Net income                                      $ 1,216      $   600
                                                 ======       ======

Basic earnings per share                        $   .16      $   .08
                                                 ======       ======

Weighted average number of basic
 shares outstanding                               7,581        7,666
                                                 ======       ======

Diluted earnings per share                      $   .16      $   .08
                                                 ======       ======

Weighted average number of diluted
 shares outstanding                               7,624        7,722
                                                 ======       ======








   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       4


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                  Six Months Ended
                                                      June 30,
                                                 ------------------
                                                  1999       1998
                                                 -------    -------
Revenues:
   Staffing services                            $ 83,414   $ 83,090
   Professional employer services                 72,308     62,802
                                                 -------    -------
                                                 155,722    145,892
                                                 -------    -------
Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs                          120,738    113,015
   Payroll taxes and benefits                     13,393     13,069
   Workers' compensation                           4,414      4,207
   Safety incentives                                 720        700
                                                 -------    -------
                                                 139,265    130,991
                                                 -------    -------

Gross margin                                      16,457     14,901

Selling, general and administrative expenses      12,261     11,851
Merger expenses                                        -        750
Amortization of intangibles                          808        682
                                                 -------    -------

Income from operations                             3,388      1,618

Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                 (129)      (117)
   Interest income                                   184        225
   Other, net                                          2          2
                                                 -------    -------
                                                      57        110
                                                 -------    -------

Income before provision for income taxes           3,445      1,728
Provision for income taxes (Note 3)                1,489        741
                                                 -------    -------

Net income                                      $  1,956   $    987
                                                 =======    =======

Basic earnings per share                        $    .26   $    .13
                                                 =======    =======

Weighted average number of basic
 shares outstanding                                7,624      7,652
                                                 =======    =======

Diluted earnings per share                      $    .26   $    .13
                                                 =======    =======

Weighted average number of diluted
 shares outstanding                                7,666      7,707
                                                 =======    =======






   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        5

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Cash Flows
                                   (Unaudited)
                                 (In thousands)
                                                      Six Months Ended
                                                          June 30,
                                                      ----------------
                                                      1999        1998
                                                     ------     ------

Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income                                       $ 1,956    $   987
   Reconciliation of net income to cash
    from operations:
      Depreciation and amortization                   1,093        905
   Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net
    of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
      Trade accounts receivable, net                 (5,497)    (2,895)
      Prepaid expenses and other                       (532)      (577)
      Deferred tax assets                                40       (195)
      Accounts payable                                  611       (448)
      Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and
       related benefits                               6,337      1,579
      Accrued workers' compensation claims
       liabilities                                     (475)       120
      Customer safety incentives payable                (61)        52
      Income taxes payable                             (438)        48
      Other accrued liabilities                        (271)       407
      Customer deposits and long-term workers'
       compensation liabilities and other assets       (467)      (126)
      Other long-term liabilities                       293         90
                                                     ------     ------
   Net cash provided by (used in) operating
    activities                                        2,589        (53)
                                                     ------     ------

Cash flows from investing activities:
      Cash paid for acquisitions, including
       other direct costs (Note 2)                  (13,982)      (680)
      Purchases of fixed assets, net of amounts
       purchased in acquisitions                       (820)      (616)
      Proceeds from maturities of marketable
       securities                                     1,679      3,766
      Purchases of marketable securities             (2,018)    (3,528)
                                                     ------     ------
   Net cash used in investing activities            (15,141)    (1,058)
                                                     ------     ------

Cash flows from financing activities:
      Payment of credit-line assumed in
       acquisition                                   (1,113)         -
      Payment of note payable assumed in
       acquisition                                      (55)         -
      Net proceeds from (payments on)
       credit-line borrowings                         2,541       (635)
      Proceeds from issuance of note payable          1,105          -
      Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt        8,000          -
      Payments on long-term debt                       (268)      (266)
      Payment to dissenting shareholder                   -       (519)
      Payment to shareholder                            (57)         -
      Repurchase of common stock                       (700)         -
      Proceeds from exercise of stock options
       and warrants                                      15        168
                                                     ------     ------
   Net cash provided by (used in) financing
    activities                                        9,468     (1,252)
                                                     ------     ------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents            (3,084)    (2,363)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        4,029      3,439
                                                     ------     ------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period            $   945    $ 1,076
                                                     ======     ======

Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
   Acquisition of other businesses:
      Cost of acquisitions in excess of fair
       market value of net assets acquired          $12,416    $   670
      Tangible assets acquired                        3,364         10
      Liabilities assumed                             1,798          -

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       6


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                          Notes to Financial Statements


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION OF INTERIM PERIOD STATEMENTS:

      The accompanying financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared
by Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc. (the "Company")  pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Certain information and
note  disclosures   typically  included  in  financial  statements  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles have been condensed or
omitted  pursuant to such rules and  regulations.  In the opinion of management,
the financial  statements  include all  adjustments,  consisting  only of normal
recurring  adjustments,  necessary  for a fair  statement of the results for the
interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the amounts  reported in the  financial
statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from such estimates
and assumptions. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
audited  financial  statements and notes thereto  included in the Company's 1998
Annual  Report on Form 10-K at pages F1-F22.  The results of  operations  for an
interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a
full year.

      Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 1999
presentation.  Such  reclassifications had no impact on gross margin, net income
or stockholders' equity.

NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS:

      Effective  January 1, 1999,  the Company  acquired all of the  outstanding
common stock of Temporary  Staffing Systems,  Inc. ("TSS"),  a staffing services
company with eight branch offices in North  Carolina and one in South  Carolina.
The Company paid  $2,000,000  in cash and issued a note payable for $950,000 due
January  31,  2000,  payment  of  which  is  contingent  upon a  minimum  equity
requirement for 1998 and certain  financial  performance  criteria for 1999. The
Company also paid $50,000 in cash for a  noncompete  agreement  with the selling
shareholder.  TSS's  revenues  for the  fiscal  year ended  March 29,  1998 were
approximately  $12.9  million  (audited).   The  transaction,   subject  to  the
resolution of the above contingencies, has been accounted for under the purchase
method of accounting.  The effect of this transaction  resulted in the recording
of $1,255,000 of tangible assets,  $393,000 of existing  intangible  assets, the
assumption of $1,798,000 of

                                        7


liabilities  and,  to date,  the  recognition  of an  additional  $2,251,000  of
intangible assets, which includes $51,000 for acquisition-related costs.

      Effective  February 15, 1999, the Company  acquired  certain assets of TPM
Staffing Services,  Inc. ("TPM"), a staffing services company with three offices
in southern  California - Lake Forest,  Santa Ana and Anaheim.  The Company paid
$1,125,000 in cash for the assets of TPM, of which $240,000 was deferred for six
months  from  the  date of  acquisition.  The  Company  also  paid  $75,000  for
noncompete agreements.  Tam's revenues for the year ended December 31, 1998 were
approximately $5.7 million (unaudited).  The transaction was accounted for under
the purchase  method of  accounting,  which resulted in $1,190,000 of intangible
assets,  including $15,000 for  acquisition-related  costs, and $25,000 of fixed
assets.

      Effective May 31, 1999, the Company  acquired  certain assets of Temporary
Skills Unlimited,  Inc., dba TSU Staffing  ("TSU"),  a staffing services company
with nine branch offices in northern California. The Company paid $10,422,000 in
cash for certain assets of TSU, of which $864,500 was deferred for one year from
the  date  of  acquisition.  The  Company  also  paid  $100,000  for  noncompete
agreements.   TSU's   revenues  for  the  year  ended  December  27,  1998  were
approximately  $25.0 million (audited).  The transaction was accounted for under
the purchase  method of  accounting,  which resulted in $8,582,000 of intangible
assets, including $144,000 for acquisition-related costs, $1,797,000 of accounts
receivable and $287,000 of fixed assets.

                                       8


NOTE 3 - PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES:

     Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following components
(in thousands):

                                       June 30, 1999  December 31, 1998
                                       -------------  -----------------
Current:
  Accrued workers' compensation claims
   liabilities                            $1,047            $1,232
  Allowance for doubtful accounts             72               102
  Safety incentives                          439               310
  Other accruals                             203               213
                                           -----             -----
                                          $1,761            $1,857
                                           =====             =====

Noncurrent:
  Tax depreciation in excess of book
   depreciation                           $  (75)           $ (101)
  Accrued workers' compensation claims
   liabilities                               275               278
  Book amortization of intangibles in
   excess of tax amortization                341               289
  Deferred compensation                       44                62
  NOL carryforward                           100                 -
  Other                                       31                24
                                           -----             -----
                                          $  716            $  552
                                           =====             =====

      The  provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 1999 and
1998, is as follows (in thousands):

                                        Six Months       Six Months
                                           Ended            Ended
                                       June 30, 1999    June 30, 1998
                                       -------------    -------------

Current:
   Federal                                $1,224            $  765
   State                                     333               171
                                           -----             -----
                                           1,557               936
                                           -----             -----
Deferred:
   Federal                                   (54)             (172)
   State                                     (14)              (23)
                                           -----             -----
                                             (68)             (195)
                                           -----             -----

Provision for income taxes                $1,489            $  741
                                           =====             =====


NOTE 4 - STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN:

      In 1993,  the Company  adopted a stock  incentive  plan (the "Plan") which
provides  for  stock-based  awards to the  Company's  employees,  directors  and
outside  consultants or advisers.  The number of shares of common stock reserved
for issuance under the Plan is 1,300,000.

                                       9


      The following table summarizes options granted under the Plan in 1999:

Outstanding at December 31, 1998    785,295      $ 3.39 to $18.00

Options granted                     174,370      $ 2.80 to $8.94
Options exercised                    (4,750)     $ 3.50
Options canceled or expired          (8,224)

Outstanding at June 30, 1999        946,691      $ 2.80 to $18.00
                                    =======

Exercisable at June 30, 1999        463,927
                                    =======

Available for grant at
   June 30, 1999                    140,184
                                    =======

      The options listed in the table generally become exercisable in four equal
annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant.

      Certain  of  the  Company's  zone  and  branch  management  employees  had
previously  elected to receive a portion  of their  quarterly  cash bonus in the
form of  nonqualified  deferred  compensation  stock  options.  Such options are
awarded at a sixty  percent  discount  from the  then-fair  market  value of the
Company's stock and are fully vested and immediately exercisable upon grant. The
amount of the grantee's deferred compensation  (discount from fair market value)
is  subject to market  risk.  During the  second  quarter of 1999,  the  Company
awarded  deferred  compensation  stock  options for 10,126 shares at an exercise
price of $2.80 per share.

                                       10



Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

Results of Operations
- ---------------------

      The  following   table  sets  forth  the  percentages  of  total  revenues
represented by selected items in the Company's  Statements of Operations for the
three and six-month periods ended June 30, 1999 and 1998.

                                      Percentage of Total Revenues
                                 ------------------------------------
                                 Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,            June 30,
                                 ----------------     ----------------

                                  1999       1998      1999      1998
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
Revenues:
   Staffing services              54.5%      55.8%     53.6%     57.0%
   Professional employer
    services                      45.5       44.2      46.4      43.0
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
      Total revenues             100.0      100.0     100.0     100.0
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----

Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs           77.4       77.4      77.5      77.4
   Payroll taxes and benefits      8.4        8.7       8.6       9.0
   Workers' compensation           2.9        2.9       2.8       2.9
   Safety incentives               0.5        0.4       0.5       0.5
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
      Total cost of revenues      89.2       89.4      89.4      89.8
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----

Gross margin                      10.8       10.6      10.6      10.2
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses           7.7        7.9       7.9       8.1
Merger expenses                      -        1.0        -        0.5
Amortization of intangibles        0.5        0.4       0.5       0.5
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
Income from operations             2.6        1.3       2.2       1.1
Other income (expense)               -        0.1        -        0.1
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
Pretax income                      2.6        1.4       2.2       1.2
Provision for income taxes         1.1        0.6       0.9       0.5
                                 -----      -----     -----     -----
Net income                         1.5%       0.8%      1.3%      0.7%
                                 =====      =====     =====     =====


                    Three months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

      Net income for the second quarter of 1999 was  $1,216,000,  an increase of
$616,000 or 102.7% over the second  quarter of 1998.  The increase in net income
for 1999 was  attributable  to a higher gross margin percent owing  primarily to
lower payroll taxes and benefits, expressed as a percentage of revenues, coupled
with lower  selling,  general and  administrative  expenses,  as a percentage of
revenues.  Additionally,  the 1998 second  quarter  included  $750,000 of merger
expenses  related to the Company's  June 1998  pooling-of-interests  merger with
Western Industrial Management, Inc. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the
second  quarter of 1999 were

                                       11


$.16 as compared to $.08 for both basic and diluted  earnings  per share for the
second quarter of 1998.

      Revenues  for the  second  quarter  of 1999  totaled  approximately  $84.7
million,  an increase  of  approximately  $8.0  million or 10.5% over the second
quarter of 1998. The  quarter-over-quarter  internal growth rate of revenues was
1.4%. The percentage  increase in total  revenues  exceeded the internal  growth
rate of revenues primarily due to the TSS acquisition effective January 1, 1999,
the TPM  acquisition  effective  February  15,  1999  and  the  TSU  acquisition
effective May 31, 1999.

      Professional employer (PEO) services revenue increased  approximately $4.7
million or 13.8% and staffing  services revenue  increased $3.4 million or 7.9%,
which  resulted in an increase in the share of PEO services  from 44.2% of total
revenues for the second quarter of 1998 to 45.5% for the second quarter of 1999.
The share of staffing services had a corresponding  decrease from 55.8% of total
revenues for the second quarter of 1998 to 54.5% for the second quarter of 1999.

      Gross  margin for the second  quarter of 1999 totaled  approximately  $9.1
million,  which represented an increase of $1.0 million or 12.5% over the second
quarter of 1998. The gross margin  percent  increased from 10.6% of revenues for
the second quarter of 1998 to 10.8% for the second quarter of 1999. The increase
in the gross margin  percentage  was due to lower  payroll  taxes and  benefits,
offset in part by slightly  higher  safety  incentives.  The decrease in payroll
taxes and benefits for the second quarter of 1999 was primarily  attributable to
lower state  unemployment  tax rates in various states in which the Company does
business.  Workers'  compensation expense for the second quarter of 1999 totaled
$2,445,000 or 2.9% of revenues, which is comparable to the $2,211,000 or 2.9% of
revenues for the second quarter of 1998.

      Selling,  general  and  administrative  ("SG&A")  expenses  for the second
quarter of 1999 amounted to approximately $6.6 million,  an increase of $516,000
or 8.6%  over  the  second  quarter  of  1998.  SG&A  expenses,  expressed  as a
percentage of revenues,  decreased  from 7.9% for the second  quarter of 1998 to
7.7% for the second  quarter of 1999.  The  increase  in total SG&A  dollars was
primarily due to increased profit sharing and related taxes,  management payroll
and rent expense in connection  with the additional  branch offices  acquired in
the TSS, TPM and TSU acquisitions.

      Amortization of intangibles  totaled  $434,000 or 0.5% of revenues for the
second  quarter of 1999,  which compares to $329,000

                                       12


or 0.4% of revenues for the second quarter of 1998.  The increased  amortization
expense was primarily due to the  amortization of intangibles  recognized in the
TSS, TPM and TSU acquisitions, which were consummated in the first half of 1999.

      The  Company  offers  various  qualified  employee  benefit  plans  to its
employees,  including its worksite  employees.  These qualified employee benefit
plans  include a savings plan (the "401(k)  plan") under  Section  401(k) of the
Internal  Revenue Code (the "Code"),  a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125, a
group health plan, a group life  insurance  plan, a group  disability  insurance
plan and an employee  assistance  plan.  Generally,  qualified  employee benefit
plans are subject to  provisions  of both the Code and the  Employee  Retirement
Income  Security Act ("ERISA").  In order to qualify for favorable tax treatment
under the  Code,  qualified  plans  must be  established  and  maintained  by an
employer for the exclusive benefit of its employees. In the event the tax exempt
status of the Company's  benefit plans were to be  discontinued  and the benefit
plans were to be disqualified, such actions could have a material adverse effect
on the  Company's  business,  financial  condition  and  results of  operations.
Reference  is made to pages 19-20 of the  Company's  1998 Annual  Report on Form
10-K for a more detailed discussion of this issue.

                     Six Months Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

      Net income  for the six months  ended  June 30,  1999 was  $1,956,000,  an
increase of $969,000 or 98.2% over the same period in 1998.  The increase in net
income was  attributable  to a higher gross margin  percent  owing  primarily to
lower payroll taxes and benefits, expressed as a percentage of revenues, coupled
with lower  selling,  general and  administrative  expenses,  as a percentage of
revenues.  Additionally,  the 1998 six-month period included  $750,000 of merger
expenses  related to the Company's  June 1998  pooling-of-interests  merger with
WIMI. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the six-month period of 1999 were
$.26 as compared to $.13 for both basic and diluted  earnings  per share for the
similar period of 1998.

      Revenues  for the six months  ended June 30,  1999  totaled  approximately
$155.7  million,  an increase  of  approximately  $9.8  million or 6.7% over the
similar  period of 1998. The increase in total revenues was primarily due to the
TSS, TPM and TSU acquisitions, which were consummated in 1999.

      Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 1999 totaled  approximately
$16.5 million,  which  represented an increase of $1.6

                                       13


million or 10.4%  over the  similar  period of 1998.  The gross  margin  percent
increased  from 10.2% of revenues for the six-month  period of 1998 to 10.6% for
the same period of 1999. The increase in the gross margin  percentage was due to
lower  payroll  taxes and  benefits and slightly  lower  workers'  compensation,
offset in part by slightly higher direct payroll costs.  The decrease in payroll
taxes and benefits for the six-month  period of 1999 was primarily  attributable
to lower  state  unemployment  tax rates in various  states in which the Company
does business.

      Selling,  general and administrative  ("SG&A") expenses for the six months
ended June 30, 1999  amounted to  approximately  $12.3  million,  an increase of
$410,000 or 3.5% over the similar period of 1998. SG&A expenses,  expressed as a
percentage of revenues,  decreased from 8.1% for the six-month period of 1998 to
7.9% for the same  period  of 1999.  The  increase  in total  SG&A  dollars  was
primarily due to increased profit sharing and related taxes,  management payroll
and rent expense in connection  with the additional  branch offices  acquired in
the TSS, TPM and TSU acquisitions.

      Amortization of intangibles  totaled  $808,000 or 0.5% of revenues for the
six months ended June 30, 1999,  which  compares to $682,000 or 0.5% of revenues
for the same period of 1998.  The increased  amortization  expense was primarily
due to the  amortization of intangibles  recognized in the 1999  acquisitions of
TSS, TPM and TSU.

Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

      The Company has historically  experienced significant  fluctuations in its
quarterly  operating  results and expects such  fluctuations  to continue in the
future. The Company's operating results may fluctuate due to a number of factors
such as seasonality,  wage limits on payroll taxes,  claims expense for workers'
compensation,  demand and competition for the Company's services, and the effect
of acquisitions.  The Company's revenue levels fluctuate from quarter to quarter
primarily due to the impact of seasonality in its staffing services business and
on certain of its PEO clients in the  agriculture  and forest  products  related
industries. As a result, the Company may have greater revenues and net income in
the third and fourth  quarters of its fiscal  year.  Payroll  taxes and benefits
fluctuate with the level of direct payroll costs but tend to represent a smaller
percentage of revenues  later in the Company's  fiscal year as federal and state
statutory wage limits for unemployment and social security taxes are exceeded by
some employees. Workers' compensation expense

                                       14


varies with both the frequency and severity of workplace  injury claims reported
during a quarter or subsequent quarters.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

      The  Company's  cash  position of $945,000 at June 30, 1999  decreased  by
$3,084,000  from  December 31,  1998.  The decrease in cash at June 30, 1999 was
primarily  due to cash used in  connection  with three  acquisitions  made since
January 1, 1999 and open-market  share  repurchase  activity,  offset in part by
proceeds from operating activities,  the Company's bank term loan and borrowings
on its credit line.

      Net cash  provided by operating  activities  for the six months ended June
30, 1999  amounted  to  $2,589,000  as  compared  to net cash used in  operating
activities of $53,000 for the comparable 1998 period. For the 1999 period,  cash
flow  was  primarily  generated  by net  income  coupled  with  an  increase  of
$6,337,000  in accrued  payroll and  benefits,  offset in part by an increase in
accounts receivable of $5,497,000.

      Net  cash  used  in  investing  activities  totaled  $15,141,000  for  the
six-month  period ended June 30, 1999, as compared to $1,058,000 for the similar
1998  period.  For the  1999  period,  cash  used in  investing  activities  was
primarily for the acquisitions of TSS, TPM and TSU. The Company presently has no
material long-term capital commitments.

      Net cash  provided by financing  activities  for the six months ended June
30, 1999 amounted to  $9,468,000,  which compares to $1,252,000 of net cash used
in financing  activities for the same period in 1998.  For the 1999 period,  the
primary source of cash provided by financing  activities was an $8,000,000  term
loan obtained from the Company's principal bank and $2,541,000 of net borrowings
on the Company's  credit line.  The term loan was obtained to provide  financing
for the TSU acquisition.

      The Company's  business strategy  continues to focus on growth through the
acquisition  of additional  personnel-related  businesses,  both in its existing
markets and other  strategic  geographic  areas,  together with the expansion of
operations  at  existing  offices.  As  disclosed  in  Note 2 to  the  financial
statements  included herein,  the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
stock  of  Temporary  Staffing  Systems,   Inc.,  a  staffing  services  company
headquartered  in North Carolina,  effective  January 1, 1999, for $2,050,000 in
cash and issued a contingent  note payable for $950,000.  As disclosed in Note 2
herein,  on February  15,  1999,  the

                                       15


Company  purchased  certain  assets of TPM Staffing  Services,  Inc., a staffing
services  company  located in southern  California,  for  $1,200,000 in cash, of
which  $240,000 is being  deferred for six months from the date of  acquisition.
Also as  disclosed  in Note 2 herein,  on May 31,  1999,  the Company  purchased
certain assets of Temporary Skills Unlimited, Inc., dba TSU Staffing, a staffing
services company headquartered in northern California,  for $10,522,000 in cash,
of which $864,500 is being deferred for one year from the date of acquisition.

      Effective  May  31,  1999,   management   renewed  the  Company's   credit
arrangement with its principal bank on terms and conditions which were generally
more favorable than the prior agreement.  The amended agreement  provided for an
increase in the unsecured  revolving credit facility from $7.65 million to $12.0
million.  This facility,  which expires May 31, 2000,  includes a subfeature for
previously  existing  standby  letters  of credit  in  connection  with  certain
workers'  compensation  surety  arrangements,  as to  which  approximately  $1.9
million was outstanding as of June 30, 1999. In addition, the Company obtained a
three-year  term loan in the amount of $8.0  million  bearing  interest at LIBOR
plus 135 basis points to provide financing for the acquisition of TSU. Terms and
conditions  of the term loan include  certain  restrictive  quarterly  financial
covenants  relating to the Company's working capital,  earnings before interest,
taxes,  depreciation  and amortization  ("EBITDA"),  and ratio of funded debt to
EBITDA;  the Company was in  compliance  with such  covenants  at June 30, 1999.
Management  expects that the funds  anticipated to be generated from operations,
together with the credit facility and other potential sources of financing, will
be sufficient in the aggregate to fund the Company's  working  capital needs for
the foreseeable future.

      On February 26, 1999, the Company's board of directors  authorized a stock
repurchase  program to purchase up to 250,000 common shares from time to time in
open-market  purchases.  During the  six-month  period ended June 30, 1999,  the
Company repurchased 103,200 shares at an aggregate price of $700,000. Management
anticipates that the capital  necessary to execute this program will be provided
by existing cash balances.

Inflation

      Inflation  generally  has not been a  significant  factor in the Company's
operations  during the  periods  discussed  above.  The  Company  has taken into
account  the  impact  of  escalating  medical  and other  costs in  establishing
reserves for future expenses for self-insured workers' compensation claims.

                                       16


Year 2000 Readiness

      The Company has  developed a Year 2000 ("Y2K") plan to ensure its internal
operational  readiness,  as well as  compliance  by the  Company's  key vendors.
Management's  plan is focused  on  evaluating  the  readiness  of the  Company's
mission critical applications  software,  operating systems software,  hardware,
communications,  third-party interfaces,  facilities (typically  non-information
technology  systems) and key vendors.  This  evaluation  process  involves  four
phases: (1) identification of risks, (2) assessment of risks, (3) development of
remediation and contingency plans, and (4) testing and implementation.

      As the Company has previously reported,  management initiated a project in
mid-1997  to  convert  its  information  systems to new  technologies  which are
expected to enable the Company to more  effectively  accommodate its anticipated
growth. This upgrade is anticipated to be completed during the fourth quarter of
1999  and is  expected  to  alleviate  the Y2K  issue  for the  mission-critical
application of payroll processing. The Company has incurred capital expenditures
of $2.6 million  through  June 30,  1999,  for this project and expects to incur
another $0.4 million  prior to  completion.  The Company's  financial  reporting
systems are currently Y2K compliant.  The  mission-critical  branch-level legacy
system is also Y2K compliant,  which was achieved through minor reprogramming by
internal staff at no incremental cost to the Company.

      Management is currently uncertain as to the need for contingency plans for
the Company's mission-critical  applications,  as it expects these systems to be
fully operational by the middle of the fourth quarter of 1999.

      The Company's assessment of the risks associated with non-mission critical
systems has been completed and remediation activities have commenced. Management
expects the costs to remediate  these systems to be minimal.  Management has not
yet  identified  any  reasonably  likely worst case  scenarios or determined the
extent of contingency planning that may be required.  As part of its assessment,
the Company is relying on  assurances  from key vendors that their  products and
services will be Y2K compliant.  To date, no significant  compliance issues have
been identified with third parties.

                                       17


      The risks  associated with the Y2K problem are pervasive and complex,  can
be  difficult  to identify  and to address,  and can result in material  adverse
consequences to the Company. Even if the Company, in a timely manner,  completes
all of its assessments,  identifies and tests  remediation  plans believed to be
adequate, and develops contingency plans believed to be adequate,  some problems
may  not be  identified  or  corrected  in  time  to  prevent  material  adverse
consequences  to the  Company.  Also,  the  Company's  business may be adversely
affected by events outside its control, such as disruptions to services provided
by utilities, banks or transportation or telecommunications networks.

Forward-Looking Information
- ---------------------------

      Statements in this report which are not  historical  in nature,  including
discussion of economic  conditions in the Company's  market areas, the potential
for and effect of future  acquisitions,  the effect of changes in the  Company's
mix of  services  on  gross  margin,  the  adequacy  of the  Company's  workers'
compensation  reserves and allowance for doubtful  accounts,  the  tax-qualified
status of the Company's  401(k) savings plan,  the timely  resolution of the Y2K
issue by the Company and its  customers  and vendors,  and the  availability  of
financing and working capital to meet the Company's  funding  requirements,  are
forward-looking   statements  within  the  meaning  of  the  Private  Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown  risks,  uncertainties  and other  factors  that may  cause  the  actual
results,  performance or achievements  of the Company or industry  results to be
materially  different  from any  future  results,  performance  or  achievements
expressed  or implied by such  forward-looking  statements.  Such  factors  with
respect to the Company include difficulties associated with integrating acquired
businesses  and clients into the Company's  operations,  economic  trends in the
Company's service areas,  uncertainties regarding government regulation of PEOs,
including the possible adoption by the IRS of an unfavorable  position as to the
tax-qualified  status of  employee  benefit  plans  maintained  by PEOs,  future
workers'  compensation  claims  experience,  and the  availability  of and costs
associated  with  potential  sources of  financing.  The Company  disclaims  any
obligation to update any such factors or to publicly  announce the result of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking  statements  contained herein to reflect
future events or developments.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

      The  Company's  exposure  to market  risk for  changes in  interest  rates
primarily relates to the Company's short-term and long-term

                                       18


debt  obligations.  As of June 30, 1999, the Company had  interest-bearing  debt
obligations of approximately $13.1 million, of which approximately $10.3 million
bear interest at a variable rate and approximately  $2.8 million at a fixed rate
of interest.  The variable rate debt is comprised of approximately  $2.5 million
outstanding under an unsecured  revolving credit facility,  which bears interest
at the  federal  funds  rate  plus 125 basis  points.  The  Company  also has an
unsecured  three-year term note with its principal bank, which bears interest at
LIBOR plus 135 basis points. Based on the Company's overall interest exposure at
June 30, 1999,  a 10 percent  change in market  interest  rates would not have a
material effect on the fair value of the Company's long-term debt or its results
of  operations.  As of June 30,  1999,  the  Company  had not  entered  into any
interest rate instruments to reduce its exposure to interest rate risk.


                           Part II - Other Information


Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

      The Company held its 1999 annual meeting of  stockholders on May 12, 1999.
The following directors were elected at the annual meeting:

                                                        ABSTENTIONS AND
                                    FOR      WITHHELD  BROKER NON-VOTES
                                    ---      --------  ----------------

      Robert R. Ames            7,406,118      6,210
      Herbert L. Hochberg       7,357,518     54,810
      Anthony Meeker            7,357,618     54,710
      Stanley G. Renecker       7,400,618     11,710
      Nancy B. Sherertz         7,400,718     11,610
      William W. Sherertz       7,401,718     10,610

      The other matter  presented for action at the annual  meeting was approved
by the following vote:

                                                       ABSTENTIONS AND
                                   FOR       AGAINST  BROKER NON-VOTES
                                   ---       -------  ----------------

      Approval of the           7,408,118     2,600           1,610
      appointment of Price-
      waterhouseCoopers LLP as
      independent accountants

                                       19


Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

      (a)  The exhibits filed herewith are listed in the Exhibit Index following
           the signature page of this report.

      (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

           On June 14,  1999,  the  Company  filed a Current  Report on Form 8-K
           dated May 31, 1999, to report that the Company had purchased  certain
           assets of Temporary  Skills  Unlimited,  Inc., dba TSU Staffing.  The
           all-cash  transaction provided for total consideration of $10,522,000
           for  certain  assets,   including  certain  accounts   receivable  of
           $1,797,000.  The  Company  paid TSU  $9,657,000  in cash and issued a
           one-year note for $864,500.  TSU provides  staffing  services through
           nine branch  offices in northern  California and had 1998 revenues of
           approximately $25.0 million.

                                       20


                                   SIGNATURES


      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                  (Registrant)






Date:  August 13, 1999            By: /s/ Michael D. Mulholland
                                     Michael D. Mulholland
                                     Vice President-Finance
                                     (Principal Financial Officer)

                                       21


                            EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT
- -------

 4.1    Loan agreement  between the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank,  N.A. dated
        May 31, 1999.

11      Statement of Calculation of Average
        Common Shares Outstanding

27      Financial Data Schedule

                                       22