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 | 5,458 | 5,259 | 199 | 3.6% |
| Craighead, AR | 56,565 | 55,118 | 1,447 | 2.6% |
| Greene, AR | 19,671 | 19,126 | 545 | 2.8% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,859 | 6,621 | 238 | 3.5% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,289 | 15,335 | 954 | 5.9% |
| Poinsett, AR | 9,939 | 9,619 | 320 | 3.2% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,377 | 7,139 | 238 | 3.2% |
| 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, March 2022; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics,"
Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, October 2021.