SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                                                Commission File Number:  0-21886

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check one):   X  Form 10-K      Form 11-K       Form 20-F       Form 10-Q
             ----           ----            ----            ----
       For Period Ended:  December 31, 2001

|_| Transition Report on Form 10-K      |_| Transition Report on Form 10-Q
|_| Transition Report on Form 20-F      |_| Transition Report on Form N-SAR
|_| Transition Report on Form 11-K
      For the Transition Period Ended:
                                        -------------------------------------
 Read attached instruction sheet before preparing form. Please print or type.

      Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the  Commission  has
verified any information contained herein.
      If the  notification  relates to a portion of the  filing  checked  above,
identify the item(s) to which the notification relates:
                                                        ------------------------


                                     PART I
                             REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant:      BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Address of principal executive office:    4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
                                          Portland, Oregon  97201

                                     PART II
                             RULE 12b-25 (b) AND (c)

      If the subject  report could not be filed without  unreasonable  effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  12b-25(b),  the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

    | (a)     The reasons  described  in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this
    |         form  could  not be  eliminated  without  unreasonable  effort  or
    |         expense;
    | (b)     The subject annual report,  semi-annual report,  transition report
    |         on Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will be
|X| |         filed on or before the 15th calendar day following the  prescribed
    |         due date; or the subject  quarterly report or transition report on
    |         Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth
    |         calendar day following the prescribed due date; and
    | (c)     The  accountant's  statement  or other  exhibit  required  by Rule
    |         12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.


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                                    PART III
                                    NARRATIVE

      State below in reasonable  detail the reasons why Form 10-K,  11-K,  20-F,
10-Q,  N-SAR or the transition  report portion thereof could not be filed within
the prescribed time period.

          The  Company  has  experienced  unexpected  delays in  finalizing  its
          accounts as of December  31,  2001,  and in  preparing  its  financial
          statements  for the year  then  ended due to  delays  associated  with
          efforts  to  quantify  the  effect  of   unforeseen   recent   adverse
          developments in workers'  compensation  claims affecting the Company's
          estimates, as of December 31, 2001, for workers' compensation expense.
          As a result, the Company is not able to file its Annual Report on Form
          10-K in a timely manner without  unreasonable  effort or expense.  The
          Company  expects  to file its  Annual  Report no later  than April 15,
          2002.

                                     PART IV
                                OTHER INFORMATION

      (1) Name and  telephone  number  of person  to  contact  in regard to this
notification:

              Michael D. Mulholland         (503)               220-0988
                  (Name)                  (Area Code)       (Telephone Number)

      (2) Have all other periodic  reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940  during the  preceding  12 months or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed?  If the answer is no,
identify report(s). -X- Yes --- No

      (3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
from the corresponding  period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
- -X- Yes --- No

      If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated  change,  both narratively
and  quantitatively,  and, if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a  reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.

          The Company  believes that its 2001  operating  results will reflect a
          significant  decline  from its  operating  results for 2000 due to the
          Company's re-evaluation of its December 31, 2001, estimate of workers'
          compensation   expense.  The  Company  and  its  outside  actuary  are
          evaluating the full potential  financial effect of these developments,
          but  the  Company  is not  able to make  an  estimate  of  appropriate
          adjustment to the accrual for workers'  compensation  expense until it
          has completed discussions with its actuary,  independent  accountants,
          and other  advisers and afforded its audit  committee and  independent
          accountants an opportunity to review the final determination.


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      BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., has caused this notification to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Date:  April 1, 2002                      By: /s/ Michael D. Mulholland
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Michael D. Mulholland
                                             Title:  Vice President - Finance

                                    ATTENTION

      Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal
violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).


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