But how to get hired then?

This should be obvious but never sign up for a degree in a field where only PhDs can get jobs.

what to do instead?

Tried that, the university considered lecturers to be disposable if there was a chance to replace them with a tenure-track who could get grants, and told me I could come back if I got a PhD.

Agreed. I found I loved teaching, but with only a Masters I was limited to adjunct hell. I took the pay cut and made the push for my doctorate.