Subang Jaya is located in the district of Petaling in the state of Selangor, 20 minutes from downtown Kuala Lumpur. In an effort to relieve congestion in the old capital, cities like Subang Jaya are rapidly growing in size. Incidentally, many people who work in Kuala Lumpur live in Subang Jaya and commute therefrom every day.
Subang Jaya has experienced strong population growth in recent years. This city is indeed an attractive alternative to living in Kuala Lumpur, while remaining close to the former administrative capital. The city also has the advantage of offering great accessibility to other major cities from West Malaysia, particularly via highways and public transport that include the KTM Komuter train and the Kelana Jaya LRT extension line.
The chairman of Subang Jaya City Council believes that the multiracial population coming from different social classes is a driving force in the city's success. It is difficult to get bored in Subang Jaya thanks to the multitude of restaurants, shopping centers and various entertainments that can be found there. The city is indeed packed with fun things to do, and as such attracts a young professional population whose motto would read “work hard and party harder”.
The population in Subang Jaya
According to statistics from the World Bank and the United Nations, Subang Jaya had a population of 746,702 in 2022. The average age of its population is 30, which is quite young compared to many other cities. As a matter of fact, the most represented population groups in Subang Jaya are those between 15 and 29 years old (186,143) and between 30 and 44 years old (182,024). The city also has 383,361 men and 363,340 women.
According to projections, the population of Subang Jaya will continue to increase sharply in the coming years. It is indeed expected to reach 800,000 inhabitants in 2024, and 900,000 by 2047. The expansion of the city limits is however extremely limited since it is surrounded by other cities and urban areas that are already densely populated. Formerly Petaling Jaya district, Subang Jaya gained city status in 1974, after a strong population growth. At that time, the city had just over 266,000 inhabitants.
Local economy and labour market
With the increase in the population of Subang Jaya, industries are thriving, and more companies are setting up their offices and factories in the area. Subang Jaya is a well-known and prosperous industrial hub in the Klang Valley, and many head offices of renowned domestic and international companies are located in industrial zones.
Subang Jaya was once a rubber plantation that was part of Petaling Jaya. It is now recognized as a modern city, with quality infrastructure and equipment. The first significant residential area came to life in 1974. It then became a municipality in 1997. City status would allow for better counseling services for inner-city residents and create a domino effect for better delivery services.
The Subang Jaya Municipal Council is very active and works hard in improving the quality of life of its constituents. The city's urban infrastructure continues to develop at breakneck speed. In 2016, several urban forest parks, inspired in part by the man-made forest of Singapore, were inaugurated with great fanfare. The objective was to give residents a way to enjoy the beauty of nature in a highly urbanized area, while reducing the greenhouse effect and making the city a model of sustainable development. As a result, the Malaysian Urban-Rural National Indicators Network has given the city excellent marks in terms of sustainable development, which constitutes an additional motivation for potential new residents seeking to extricate themselves from the urban jungle of Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, downtown Subang Jaya has seen many changes and improvements thanks to development projects that are turning the region into a confluence area in the urban suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Subang Jaya now has a reliable and fast public transport network, such as the LRT fast train or the KTM Rail. The parks have also been equipped with attractions: you can go hiking, walk or run trails, climbing... Indoor activities are also possible, especially at EnerZ Extreme Park.
This improved accessibility will allow Subang Jaya to become a dynamic destination for living, working and entertainment. This development project also includes various and varied businesses, hotels, service apartments and offices.
Subang Jaya is often recognized as an important education hub that boasts of hosting some of the best schools, colleges and universities in the country. In 2017, the opening of the GEMS International School at Tropicana Metropark, a green zone, has created many career opportunities in the education sector. This huge educational center aims for excellence and as such, recruits the best teachers in the country. GEMS International School is one of the most popular schools in Malaysia for expatriates and intakes children from kindergarten to secondary.
Even if the development of the city has experienced a certain slowdown with the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the city authorities of Subang Jaya intend to maintain this strategy over the long term. There are numerous job opportunities for foreigners out there, and they should multiply further in the future, thanks to the development of new infrastructures and facilities. According to forecasts, Malaysia should indeed return to its pre-Covid growth rate by 2024. To find out more, do not hesitate to consult our article on the changes in Malaysia after the Covid-19 crisis.
Finding a job in Subang Jaya
Job vacancies in Subang Jaya are often posted on professional career platforms like LinkedIn and on major companies' websites. You will also find many job offers on specialized websites such as jobstreet, indeed, jobstore, and many others.
Many big foreign and multinational companies have set up offices in Subang Jaya. The city is indeed an ideal location to open branches in Malaysia thanks to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur and its accessibility. For instance, IBM, KPMG, DXC Technologies, Dell Technologies, HSBC, Schlumberger, Shell, McDonald's or Starbucks are among some of the main multinationals that make up Subang Jaya's professional fresco. Needless to say, such sizeable companies regularly offer more or less senior positions and are very fond of qualified expatriates with good professional experience.
Professional networks will also allow you to be in contact with potential employers and possibly be recruited by a headhunter. If you are already settled in Subang Jaya, attending networking evening events can be a good way to meet people working in your field or register with a recruitment agency. You can also join our expat network in Malaysia, which could allow you to meet people who are beneficial to your career.
Among the economic sectors that provide the most jobs in Subang Jaya, as in other major cities in Malaysia, are jobs related to digital development, as well as new technologies. In 2021, the Government of Malaysia launched the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint, a long-term strategy aimed at making the country a regional or even global platform for the development of a national digital economy. This strategy has already enabled the development of many start-ups in the country. Malaysia's national Internet penetration has also increased sharply in recent years, and more and more local companies are offering digital services. Due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, the main economic and digital engine of Malaysia, Subang Jaya is a real promised land for people working in this field. This represents a demanding challenge for the local labour market, in terms of job opportunities. Expatriate professionals with related high skills in this sector are not necessarily found in Malaysia.
However, it is always necessary to keep in mind that many positions and sectors remain inaccessible to foreigners who wish to work in Malaysia. The Malaysian authorities take great care at maintaining as many jobs as possible for the country's citizens. However, with the necessary qualifications, you will easily find a job if you work in one of those promising industrial sectors like health, electronics, digital, telecommunications, services, administration, commerce, finance, banking, insurance, communication, journalism, research, archiving, application development, amongst others. Many expatriates not only hold executive positions in large foreign companies based in Malaysia but also do so within local companies.
In addition, Malaysia allows resident foreigners to set up their own businesses, and many of these expatriate entrepreneurs choose to settle in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, particularly in Subang Jaya. Thanks to its green and pleasant environment, excellent nearby educational institutions, leisure and lively nightlife, Subang Jaya intends to stand out from other cities in the country but continues to face big competition from its neighbor and archrival Kuala Lumpur. It is not uncommon for professionals from the former capital to choose to settle in Subang Jaya and make the daily (and fast) journey between the two cities.
Personal and commercial housing options
One of the biggest drawbacks caused by Subang Jaya's growing population and aggressive development is the steep rise in rent prices. Count at least RM1,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment near the city center, and 800 if you choose to settle in the suburbs in the same type of apartment. For a furnished three-bedroom apartment, rents average RM2,500 in the city center and RM2,000 in the suburbs. However, renting in Subang Jaya is generally more affordable than in some of Kuala Lumpur's most luxurious areas.
When it comes to renting professional space, there is now a real coworking culture in Subang Jaya and other major cities in Malaysia. These types of premises are particularly popular within digital nomads in Malaysia, entrepreneurs and SMEs communities. They also allow you to rub shoulders with other professionals and easily create networks. Some of the most popular and highly rated coworking spaces in Subang Jaya include Komune Co-working, Jerry Coworking Space, Headspace SS15, and Nomad Malaysia. Professionals have the choice between several types of rental options: daily, monthly, hot-desking and rental of fully furnished offices. Rents are generally affordable.
In short, Subang Jaya is set to become one of the most important urban hubs in Selangor State. The youth, dynamism and multiculturalism of its population already make it one of the most interesting and attractive places in all of Malaysia. The continuous development of its infrastructures, admittedly slowed down by Covid-19, offers a more than comfortable lifestyle to its inhabitants, and there is no shortage of professional opportunities if you wish to settle there.
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