Wrong. The figure for discouraged is not the gross change, but the total number. I'm not sure why you think when every other number in the report is a current level or rate that that one number is a gross change with no total level published. The survey asks many questions. Here are the questions and answers to be classified as Discouraged:
(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did (name/you) do ANY work for (pay/either pay or profit)? NO
(Do / Does) (name/you) currently want a job, either full or part time? YES
What are all the things (you/he/she) (have/has) done to find work during the last 4 weeks? Looked at ads or Attended job training programs/courses or Other passive or Nothing
When did (you/he/she) last work at (a/that) job or business? Within the last 12 months
(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), could (you/he/she) have started a job if one had been offered? YES
What is the main reason (you/he/she) (was/were) not looking for work during the LAST 4 WEEKS? Believes no work available in line of work or area or Couldn't find any work or Lacks necessary schooling, training, skills or experience or Employers think too young or too old or Other types of discrimination
So if someone stopped looking for work back in October, and answered all the other questions with one of the ones I've listed, s/he would be classified as Discouraged. The net change for discouraged in June was +247,000...meaning there were 247,000 more people discouraged in June than in May.
True, but why would you?