I would argue that working in academia would give someone the opportunity to work on something that is meaningful to them. In academia, one can do research, take sabbatical, teach or write a textbook (and have the credentials to get it sold). It makes it so you have time to work on things that are meaningful and interesting to you and have greater control over your schedule.

I would argue that working in industry gives you the opportunity to compete. Working in industry, there are opportunities to advance but only for those who are willing to really go after it. This means staying at work long hours and might include a lot of stress because so many people are depending on you and depending on how big the company is, one small project can cost the company millions. Your job and your way of life is on the line. If you mess up, you might not be able to afford rent next month. If you succeed, you might get that promotion. If you are someone who wants to make more money and thrive in that environment, then industry would be appealing.