Workforce
Manufacturing forms the backbone of the Paragould labor market, with major employers including Tenneco, Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer; Greenbrier Companies, a manufacturer of railway tank and hopper cars; and Anchor Industries, manufacturers of plastic wrap and packaging. Employees converge on Paragould to work from surrounding counties, providing a labor force of more than 141,000 in a 45-mile radius. Median Household Income is $45,841, and 90.0 percent of the adult population has a high school diploma or beyond in Greene County.
Workforce Labor Force:
| County | Civilian Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
| Clay, AR | 5,442 | 5,322 | 120 | 2.2% |
| Craighead, AR | 56,655 | 55,629 | 1,026 | 1.8% |
| Greene, AR | 19,543 | 19,157 | 386 | 2.0% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,854 | 6,684 | 170 | 2.5% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,454 | 15,724 | 730 | 4.4% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,131 | 9,906 | 225 | 2.2% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,498 | 7,334 | 164 | 2.2% |
| Dunklin, MO | 11,007 | 10,578 | 429 | 3.9% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 5,893 | 5,618 | 275 | 4.7% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, October 2021; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics,"
Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, October 2021.