Workforce
Manufacturing forms the backbone of the Paragould labor market, with major employers including Tenneco, Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer; American Railcar Inc., 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 140,000 in a 45-mile radius. Median Household Income is $41,717, and 85.4 percent of the adult population has a high school diploma or beyond.
Workforce Labor force:
| County | Civilian Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
| Clay, AR |
5,775 |
5,520 | 255 | 4.4% |
| Craighead, AR | 55,171 | 53,395 | 1,776 | 3.2% |
| Greene, AR | 19,805 | 19,064 | 741 | 3.7% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,547 | 6,251 | 296 | 4.5% |
| Mississippi,AR | 17,779 | 16,628 | 1,151 | 6.5% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,558 | 10,140 | 418 | 4.0% |
| Randolph, AR | 6,922 |
6,621 |
301 | 4.3% |
| Dunklin, MO | 11,677 | 10,828 | 849 | 7.3% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 5,988 | 5,552 | 436 | 7.3% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, July 2018; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics," Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, July 2018.