Coming from an individual who has work experience in academia and industry there are pros and cons for both career paths. In terms of moving your career forward based on your work, industry is more promising. When you work in industry all of you work helps to promote you up to a higher position while in academia you have fewer opportunities to get promoted based off your work. In academia, your work does not directly affect the public as it would if you worked in industry. A way to make an impact in research is through publications but it usually only provides insight to more researchers to further develop a scope. While in industry, your work makes a direct impact financially and politically to the world around you. However, within academia you have more independence to do what you want but in industry you lose that freedom. Overall, you must enjoy the career path that you choose.
Reference:
http://www.pgbovine.net/academia-industry-junior-employee.htm