adjective
unemployed, jobless
A1
'arbeitslos' is an adjective meaning 'unemployed' or 'jobless'. It’s derived from Arbeit + -los and is used predicatively (Er ist arbeitslos) and attributively with normal adjective endings. Note: metadata marks it non-gradable (you don't say 'sehr arbeitslos'). Antonym: beschäftigt. Not a participle.
Examples
Er ist seit drei Monaten arbeitslos.
He's been unemployed for three months.
Nach der Schließung blieb der Mann arbeitslos, obwohl er sich oft bewarb.
After the closure, the man remained unemployed, although he applied often.
Viele Leute fühlten sich arbeitslos, nachdem die Firma geschlossen wurde.
Many people felt unemployed after the company closed.
Details
Mnemonics
picture someone with an empty briefcase and a big 'X' over a calendar
sounds like 'work-less' in English (no work)
Notes
Commonly used to describe people without a job. Not typically used to form comparative degrees in everyday speech.