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Workers' Compensation Claims - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Balance in Chubb trust account	$ 299,600,000	$ 277,100,000
Receivable from Chubb	11,300,000
Specified investment balances or other financial instruments	135,000,000	135,000,000
Surety bonds and standby letters of credit	128,800,000
Estimated future liability for unsettled workers' compensation	326,233,000	312,537,000	$ 265,143,000	$ 255,675,000
Reserves incurred in excess of retention limits	9,200,000	9,100,000
Other Assets [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Accrual for costs incurred in excess of retention limits offset by a receivable	9,200,000	$ 9,100,000
California [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Surety bonds and standby letters of credit	123,300,000
Barrett Business Services Inc [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Worker's compensation risk claim maximum	$ 5,000,000

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(15)(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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