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 | 5,450 | 5,292 | 158 | 2.9% |
| Craighead, AR | 58,406 | 57,173 | 1,233 | 2.1% |
| Greene, AR | 19,946 | 19,427 | 519 | 2.6% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,912 | 6,743 | 169 | 2.4% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,452 | 15,765 | 687 | 4.2% |
| Poinsett, AR | 10,052 | 9,807 | 245 | 2.4% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,241 | 7,056 | 185 | 2.6% |
| Dunklin, MO | 11,060 | 10,536 | 524 | 4.7% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 5,731 | 5,491 | 240 | 4.2% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, May 2023;
"Local Area Unemployment Statistics," Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, May 2023.