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 110,000 in a 45-mile radius. Median Household Income is $41,286, and almost 83 percent of the adult population has a high school diploma or beyond.
Workforce Labor force:
| County | Civilian Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
| Clay | 5,724 | 5,496 | 228 | 4.0% |
| Craighead | 53,930 | 52,427 | 1,503 | 2.8% |
| Greene | 19,554 | 18,959 | 595 | 3.0% |
| Lawrence | 6,871 | 6,634 | 237 | 3.4% |
| Mississippi | 17,533 | 16,631 | 902 | 5.1% |
| Randolph | 6,838 |
6,600 |
238 | 3.5% |
| Dunklin, MO | 12,228 | 11,525 | 703 | 5.7% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, April 2018; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics," Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, April 2018.