Unemployed Hoskins had beer, but no starter (4)
I believe the answer is:
idle
'unemployed' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'hoskins had beer but no starter' is the wordplay.
'hoskins had' becomes 'I'd' (where the crossword setter is 'Hoskins').
'beer' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'but no starter' means to remove the first letter.
'ale' with its initial letter removed is 'le'.
'id'+'le'='IDLE'
(Other definitions for idle that I've seen before include "Not doing much" , "Dormant" , "Lied about being lazy or not working" , "loiter aimlessly" , "Without work" .)