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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892917-09-000233.txt : 20090810
<SEC-HEADER>0000892917-09-000233.hdr.sgml : 20090810
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090810172419
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892917-09-000233
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090810
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Justesen Jon L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001311958

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21886
		FILM NUMBER:		091001071

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902791
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				520812977
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(800) 494-5669

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bbsi4justesen090810_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000902791</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001311958</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Justesen Jon L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98662</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Justesen Ranches Keogh Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person also has indirect beneficial ownership of 177 shares held by Justesen Ranches.   The reporting person is
 a co-owner of Justesen Ranches.   The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to
 the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Exhibit List
Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James D. Miller, as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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<div TITLE="EE+ Page Header">
<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font SIZE=2></font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:right;'><b><font size=2>Exhibit 24</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font SIZE=2></font></p>
</DIV>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font SIZE=2>POWER OF ATTORNEY</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of James&nbsp;D. Miller, Gregory&nbsp;R. Vaughn, and Brooks DiStefano signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>1.</font><font size=1></font><font size=2>Execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of Barrett Business Services, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms&nbsp;3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section&nbsp;16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, and any other forms or reports the undersigned may be required to file in connection with the undersigned's ownership, acquisition, or disposition of securities of the Company; and</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form&nbsp;3, 4, or 5, or other form or report, and timely file such form or report with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority as appropriate.</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, and the Company is not assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section&nbsp;16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms&nbsp;3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:1in;text-align:left;'><font size=2>IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 13th day of May, 2009.</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>


<div align=left>

<table border="0" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="638" style='border-collapse:collapse'>
    <tr >
        <td width="357" valign=top style='padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
            <p style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:1.0pt;margin-bottom: 0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td width="282" valign=top style='border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=2>/s/ Jon L. Justesen</font></p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
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            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td width="282" valign=top style='padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=2>Signature</font></p> </td> </tr>
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            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td width="282" valign=top style='padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
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            <p style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:1.0pt;margin-bottom: 0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=2>Jon L. Justesen</font></p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
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            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0in;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0in'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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