Feature

As Unemployment Rises, Arlingtonians Turn to Gig Economy

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com,  Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. Monday Properties is proudly featuring Shirlington Gateway. Say hello to the new 2800 Shirlington, which recently delivered a brand-new lobby and upgraded fitness center. Experience a prime location and enjoy being steps from Shirlington Village, a large retail hub with a variety of unique restaurants and shopping options. Spec suites with bright open plans and modern finishes are under construction and will deliver soon!

As unemployment figures skyrocket in Virginia, lawn care provider Lawn Love says that has translated to a dramatic uptick in Arlingtonians applying to work gigs to maintain an income.

Over the last three weeks, initial filing claims totaled 306,143 which is equal to all of the claims from that period in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined.

Lawn Love is a California-based on-demand lawn care service — forgive the cliche, but essentially Uber for lawn care. The company connects locals seeking lawn care with independent contractors in the area. The company said applications to work for the service had a dramatic increase in March as the pandemic, and related unemployment, set in.

“Lawn Love has reported a huge increase in applications,” the company said, “with 725% more Arlington residents applying to work with them in March compared to February.”

Lawn Love noted that lawn care services are classified as essential and the service operating entirely over smartphone or computer makes it social distancing friendly.

The average lawn care price listed for Arlington is $61, with the average lawn size being 5,367 square feet.

“If you have lawn care experience, there’s lots of high-paying work available on our platform,” CEO Jeremy Yamaguchi told ARLnow in an email. “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.”

Photo via Lawn Love/Instagram