With unemployment in Ohio on the rise, more people are turning to gig work such as on-demand lawn care.

According to the Department of Labor, 272,129 people in Ohio filed for unemployment in Week Ending March 28, up 39% from the week prior. Meanwhile, on-demand lawn care gig platform, Lawn Love has reported a huge increase in applications. With 200% more Columbus residents applying to work with them in March compared to February.

Many other home services have seen a rapid decline in business as a result of new social distancing guidelines. The lawn care industry however, has been largely unaffected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Department of Homeland Security, lawn care service providers are categorized as essential, critical infrastructure workers.

Lawn Love’s services are managed remotely from a smartphone or computer, making it easier to adhere to social distancing guidelines. The platform remotely generates an estimate for services using proprietary satellite imaging technology. Homeowners can get a quote, schedule services, and pay remotely, all through the app.

“We have removed any of the face to face interaction that is typically required between a traditional lawn care provider and homeowner when providing estimates or picking up payments”, said Mr. Yamaguchi.

As unemployment continues to rise, Lawn Love expects to see more providers applying to work on their platform. “If you have lawn care experience, there’s lots of high-paying work available on our platform. We’re focused on helping our lawn care partners stay safe and continue providing for their families by providing a critical service in our communities”, said Mr. Yamaguchi.

Columbus residents can apply to work with Lawn Love at lawnlove.com/apply. Providers must have at least one year of professional lawn care experience, their own equipment, and a truck. For more information on how COVID-19 affects lawn care, go to: https://lawnlove.com/lawn-care-and-coronavirus