Plans to make job seekers apply for 40 jobs a month have been abandoned following an angry backlash.

The federal government had wanted the tougher regime to work alongside another contentious budget measure which would force some young job seekers under 30 to wait six months before receiving the dole.

Minister for Employment Eric Abetz says the backflip shows the government is listening to feedback. Credit:Peter Mathew

But Minister for Employment Eric Abetz confirmed on Tuesday the government "has made some changes" to the scheme and will now keep the required number of monthly job applications to the current rate of 20.

Senator Abetz told the ABC the government had listened to the community and accepted forcing the unemployed to apply for 40 positions a month could "diminish" the value of genuine job applications.