I've been told this a few times since I moved to the USA. I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy, so I'm obviously biased on this, but critical thinking, as the major component of philosophical exploration, and all the associated skills are absolutely essential. Critical thinking and common sense are not always the same thing, as evidenced by *gestures broadly*.

These types of soft skills might not always translate into direct $$$ but they are incredibly socially valuable. I've since obtained a Master's degree and am working on a PhD in the mental health field, which again, definitely not tied to financial worth and my experience isn't necessarily generalizable, but worth can be thought of as a lot more than financially valuable career paths when we think more broadly about societal needs.