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Workers' Compensation Claims - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Balance in Chubb trust account	$ 380,600,000	$ 277,100,000
Specified investment balances or other financial instruments	96,800,000	135,000,000
Surety bonds and standby letters of credit	96,800,000
Estimated future liability for unsettled workers' compensation	363,517,000	312,537,000	$ 255,675,000	$ 225,278,000
Reserves incurred in excess of retention limits	3,000,000	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	3,000,000	$ 9,100,000
California [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Surety bonds and standby letters of credit	84,800,000
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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(20))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Topic 210
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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