The main occupation of the people of this district is agriculture. All types of crops are produced. Varieties of rice, wheat, and a number of rabbi crops are produced.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sheohar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF)
