BBSI Declares First Quarterly Cash Dividend and New Stock Repurchase Program

VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov 16, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:BBSI) announced today that

its board of directors has approved the Company's first regular

quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. The cash dividend will be

paid on December 21, 2006 to all stockholders of record as of November

30, 2006.

The Company also announced that its board adopted a new stock

repurchase program and authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000

shares from time to time in open market purchases, as the Company

deems appropriate.

William W. Sherertz, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated

that: "These actions demonstrate our belief that the Company's

prospects for the future are strong."

Statements in this release about future events or performance are

forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks,

uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of

the Company to be materially different from any future results

expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that

could affect future results include economic conditions in the

Company's service areas, the effect of changes in the Company's mix of

services on gross margin, the Company's ability to successfully

integrate acquired businesses with its existing operations, future

workers' compensation claims experience, the effect of changes in the

workers' compensation regulatory environment in one or more of our

primary markets, collectibility of accounts receivable, and the use of

net proceeds of approximately $33 million from the Company's 2005

follow-on equity offering, among others. Other important factors that

may affect the Company's future prospects are described in the

Company's 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although forward-looking

statements help to provide complete information about the Company,

readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may be

less reliable than historical information. The Company undertakes no

obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements in this

release to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after

the date of this release.

BBSI provides a comprehensive range of human resource management

solutions to large and small companies throughout many regions of the

United States.

SOURCE: Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

President and Chief Executive Officer

William W. Sherertz, 360-828-0700

Released November 16, 2006