Then you’re ignoring the data.

Yes, the number of “net” new jobs is stuck in the low 200K range, but those aren’t the figures you should be worried about. Actually the number of open job postings — a whopping 5M in total — represents the real problem for companies looking to retain top talent.

You see, when it comes to filling all those vacant positions, organizations aren’t looking to hire the unemployed. Instead they are aggressively going after your best workers. They aim to steal top talent from rival companies — people who understand the industry and have a network of connections within it. More than 60% of HR professionals have reported an increase in the number of their employees receiving an offer from a direct competitor.

But wait a minute. Aren’t engaged employees supposed to be more loyal and less likely to leave voluntarily? Yes, of course, but recent research also suggests that while top talent is engaged in what they do, they may not necessarily be as committed to who they do it for. Many “A-players” believe their hard work has gone unappreciated, and as a result, they are ripe for the taking.

In my next webinar “7 Simple Steps to Prevent Employee Poaching” I will talk more about this issue. I’ll explain why your employees are more vulnerable to competitive poaching than you might think and I’ll give you a plan to preventing their loss.

Want to learn more? Click here to register.