Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) celebrates mature workers through National Employ Older Workers Week, held this year from September 24 through 28. In conjunction with this event, a new survey from Adecco Staffing US reports that hiring managers are three times more likely to hire a mature worker (60 percent) than a Millennial (20 percent).

The survey, conducted by Braun Research, Inc on behalf of Adecco, polled hiring managers across a range of industries about their perceptions of mature workers versus Millennial job candidates. Findings revealed a positive perception of mature workers in today's workplace, with 91 percent of respondents saying they view mature workers as reliable and 88 percent considering them professional.

The survey classifies mature workers as those 50 years old and older—a fast-growing segment of jobseekers. According to the DOL, by 2014, those over the age of 55 will have an employment rate of 41 percent, which is more than 21 percent of the U.S. workforce. Many mature workers today are in the second phase of their career, some of whom had to come out of retirement or were laid off during the most recent economic downturn.

"The rise of mature workers in today's workforce is a direct result of economic and societal factors," said Joyce Russell, president of Adecco Staffing US. "These are individuals who long ago paid their dues, and given their years of experience and work ethic, they make excellent job candidates and strong employees—and the results of this survey show how overwhelmingly appreciated and valued they are by hiring managers. National Employ Older Workers Week is a wonderful time to recognize the contributions these employees make to any organization."