The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development was awarded a $2.9 million federal grant to expand apprenticeship opportunities in high-growth industries in Massachusetts.

The American Apprenticeship Grant (AAG), awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, will enable the state to help 300 residents gain apprenticeship training in industries with a growing demand for new employees, like healthcare, technology and advanced manufacturing. AAG funds awarded across the country totaled $175 million.

The funds will support the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Initiative (MAI) to increase the number of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities in those industries. There are currently more than 7,500 registered apprentices in the state.

“Our team worked incredibly hard to be awarded one of these highly competitive grants,” Ronald Walker II, Labor and Workforce Development secretary and chair of the Workforce Skills Cabinet, said in a statement. “These funds will help us in our mission to meet employers’ demands for highly-skilled workers so they can continue to grow their businesses. Businesses cannot grow if they cannot find enough skilled workers.”