SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The results are in, and San Juan County has decided to stick with its 32-hour work week.

The county noted significant financial savings and workforce gains in the final two-year report it released last month.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that the county adopted a 32-hour work week pilot project for unionized employees in fall 2023, as one of the first in the country to do so. It came in response to budget problems the county was facing due to inflation, rising wages and high turnover among a shrinking workforce.

According to the final report, the shift saved the county nearly $2 million in projected cost-of-living expenses that wouldn’t otherwise be available with the traditional 40-hour model. Its workforce also saw a sizeable boost, with a more than 200% jump in the total number of applicants.

“As we face tighter fiscal years ahead, preserving the gains afforded by the 32HWW is even more critical,” county manager Jessica Hudson said. “With limited resources, we’re using every tool available to manage our finances responsibly and conservatively, and the 32HWW has proven to be a valuable resource.”

Voluntary separations, like quitting or retiring, dropped by an average of 28% amid struggles to retain skilled workers.

The county says the 32-hour work week will now become the standard for operations, though the model will continue to be refined in years to come.