(someone) has been (adjective) for (some time)

This is used to describe a continued situation that started some time in the past and is still happening now:

She's been depressed for a few weeks.

The word that follows "been" should be an adjective or some longer phrase that works like an adjective. "Out of work" is a phrase that can be used like an adjective:

A lot of out-of-work actresses applied for the waitress job.

This phrase appears in these lessons: