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 $47,497, and 87.3 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 | 5,416 | 4,937 | 479 | 8.8% |
| Craighead, AR | 55,952 | 51,170 | 4,782 | 8.5% |
| Greene, AR | 19,987 | 18,055 | 1,932 | 9.7% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,812 | 6,206 | 606 | 8.9% |
| Mississippi, AR | 17,805 | 15,164 | 2,641 | 14.8% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,104 | 9,315 | 789 | 7.8% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,288 | 6,666 | 622 | 8.5% |
| Dunklin, MO | 11,518 | 10,459 | 1,059 | 9.2% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 6,463 | 5,793 | 670 | 10.4% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, May 2020; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics," Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, April 2020.