No human effort has created an atom of matter since the dawn of time. All we do is rearrange things into forms others like better. Anybody who does anything that pleases another person, enough that said other voluntarily surrenders cash for the results, is a productive worker. US workers annually produce $11 trillion in new value out of their direct efforts, and can afford to consume that much or any lesser quantity (to allow investment for future projects beyond those they can already accomplish), indefintely.
That tide has reversed.