-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914536-04-000024.txt : 20040413
<SEC-HEADER>0000914536-04-000024.hdr.sgml : 20040413
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040413180023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914536-04-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040410
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040413

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPHERION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000914536
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				363536544
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2050 SPECTRUM BLVD
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309-3008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9543087600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2050 SPECTRUM BLVD
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309-3008

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERIM SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCHER ERIC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219609

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11997
		FILM NUMBER:		04731354

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SPHERION CORP
		STREET 2:		2050 SPECTRUM BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9543086255

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SPHERION CORP
		STREET 2:		2050 SPECTRUM BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914536</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPHERION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219609</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARCHER ERIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SPHERION CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2050 SPECTRUM BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FT LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres, Prof Recruiting Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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                <value>2002-04-10</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.3125</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-06</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.3125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-05-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <value>2012-10-04</value>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.99</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-18</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>14104</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.99</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55896</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55896</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common stock acquired on the vesting of Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) on 4/10/04.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Common shares held directly and shown in Table I, Column 5 include shares acquired under Spherion Corporation's 1997 and/or 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Eric Archer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----