A high percentage of hareidim prefer to work in what the goyim would call “academic life”. Since there is an oversupply of scholars,the pay (for teachers, graduate fellows, etc. – or as we say, rabbanim, kollel, etc.) is low. While the yeshiva industry is a major source of macroeconomic stimulus (and of foreign exchange – as it attracts a huge amount of overseas, meaning from golus, investment), it is quite unappreciated by the frei Jews (remember, they became zionists in the hope of getting away from yiddishkeit).

Frum economic decisions are rarely motivated by economics. We often avoid high paying professions if they would pose halachic issues (we also choose to live in places like New York which offer horrific housing at excessive prices).

P.S. the only threat that might intimidate the hilonim is to ally with the Muslims, but probably that isn’t politically realistic at this time – however they don’t object to Jews learning Torah and doing Mitsvos, and having political sovereignty is not critical for frum Jews – so there might be room to negotiate some day.