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 | 5,263 | 5,057 | 206 | 3.9% |
| Craighead, AR | 56,859 | 55,544 | 1,315 | 2.3% |
| Greene, AR | 19,387 | 18,848 | 539 | 2.8% |
| Lawrence, AR | 6,654 | 6,447 | 207 | 3.1% |
| Mississippi, AR | 16,267 | 15,440 | 827 | 5.1% |
| Poinsett, AR | 9,739 | 9,457 | 282 | 2.9% |
| Randolph, AR | 7,026 | 6,813 | 213 | 3.0% |
| Dunklin, MO | 11,111 | 10,657 | 454 | 4.1% |
| Pemiscot, MO | 5,854 | 5,624 | 230 | 3.9% |
Source: "Arkansas Labor Market," Department of Workforce Services, December 2022; "Local Area Unemployment Statistics,"
Missouri Economic Research & Information Center, December 2022.