> It’s just industry is better at generating wealth than academia
Ok... And almost by definition, that means that industry (and therefore industry jobs) is more useful to society. Because it is generating more wealth.
> ...that means that industry (and therefore industry jobs) is more useful to society. Because it is generating more wealth.
I feel that this is a rather narrow view, since there are a lot of companies who generate wealth by being detrimental to society at large (usually those who are just rent-seeking instead of continuously creating value).
They generate money which people can spend, so if that's the only criterion for wealth (it isn't), then mindlessly printing money is also useful to society (it isn't).
Ok... And almost by definition, that means that industry (and therefore industry jobs) is more useful to society. Because it is generating more wealth.