As of January 2007, the largest single employer in the city was the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior which has hired roughly 2,250 policemen. The second-largest employer is the United States government. The 101st Airborne 3rd Brigade was stationed at Tal Afar Airbase in 2003-04 and its 1st Battalion was stationed in the town proper.
Important industries in the region include agriculture, especially the harvesting of wheat which historically has been processed at the city�s state-run granary, and the production ofcement and macadam.
Unemployment was estimated to be at levels as high as 80% as of August 2006
