Worried about poaching? You better be.

We are about to enter a new era in the “battle for talent” where the best employees are vulnerable to competitive poaching.

Just a few years ago—when the economy was humming—firms on growth trajectories were getting ready to fight for their share of a shrinking labor pool. Today it’s clear that the “battle for talent” will play out as a retention struggle, as disgruntled workers contemplate leaving.

In her article for Business Insider entitled: As War for Talent Heats Up, So Does Employee Poaching, author Heather Huhman tells us that:

- Harris Interactive found that 74% of employees would consider a new job opportunity.

- Nearly 50% of employees surveyed by MarketTools, Inc., have considered leaving their current jobs; 21% have applied for another job in the past six months.

- CareerBuilder and Harris Interactive reported that 66% would change jobs for the right opportunity.

So what characteristics do "poachable" employees have? They are the ones that are the most productive…the most engaged...and the ones on your rival’s radar.

Highly engaged employees are 200% more likely to be top performers; 75% of them exceed or far exceed expectations in their performance reviews. And in a marketplace that rewards agility, highly engaged workers are more flexible and innovative.

Normally engagement would be synonymous with intent to stay, but not in this economy. Overachievers feel underappreciated and in many organizations they have been picking up the slack caused by workforce reductions. The data suggests that your high performers may want out. Companies should target this group immediately with recognition initiatives that celebrate their success and their ongoing importance to the company’s future—and do so before a competitor does.