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 | 5,544 | 5,276 | 268 | 4.8% |
| Craighead, AR | 56,800 | 54,478 | 2,322 | 4.1% |
| Greene, AR | 19,272 | 18,407 | 865 | 4.5% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,643 | 6,260 | 383 | 5.8% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,780 | 15,208 | 1,572 | 9.4% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,098 | 9,591 | 507 | 5.0% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,501 | 7,122 | 379 | 5.1% |
| Dunklin, MO | 12,070 | 11,284 | 786 | 6.5% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 6,424 | 5,888 | 536 | 8.3% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, June 2021; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics," Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, June 2021.