A private foundation in Japan has launched an effort to help Ukrainian evacuees find jobs in the country.

Officials with the Nippon Foundation say the language barrier is among the major challenges those evacuees face in job-hunting in Japan. The officials say some cannot find the jobs they want, despite having specialized skills and expertise.

The foundation last month kicked off the campaign, in which job counselors support Ukrainian evacuees with their skills and preferences in mind. It has commissioned a Tokyo-based non-profit organization to carry out the project.

Ukrainian job seekers showed up at the non-profit group's office on Monday. They include a man who was engaged in construction work in Ukraine.

The program will provide a range of support, including assisting evacuees in learning Japanese, accompanying them to job interviews, and helping them get accustomed to new workplaces.

A man who has consulted with one of the counselors said he is grateful that he could get professional, in-person assistance.

Fujita Shigeru, an official of the Nippon Foundation Office for People Displaced from Ukraine, said some Ukrainian job seekers are highly skilled and experienced and ready to make immediate contributions to companies.