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 | 5,370 | 5,258 | 112 | 2.1% |
| Craighead, AR | 56,538 | 55,610 | 928 | 1.6% |
| Greene, AR | 19,518 | 19,177 | 341 | 1.7% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,805 | 6,649 | 156 | 2.3% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,429 | 15,745 | 684 | 4.2% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,024 | 9,821 | 203 | 2.0% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,461 | 7,310 | 151 | 2.0% |
| Dunklin, MO | 10,821 | 10,445 | 376 | 3.5% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 5,813 | 5,569 | 244 | 4.2% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, October 2021; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics,"
Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, October 2021.