Depends on the industry. Degree based ones like medicine or accounting and or trades are easier to get into the industry to make a comfortable living for the average perdon. Now upper tier is another matter, and that does heavily benefit from relationships if going for like high management level positions.

But, the art and performance based ones like movies and music is one where relationship definitely is heavily shifted to being important, and talent and work ethic guarantees nothing. And financial security is very unstable and hard to attain for the average person, so every advantage matters.