A method for producing a water-absorbent resin by performing a reversed-phase suspension polymerization of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium, comprising the following steps of: (A) performing a primary dispersion in the absence of surfactants by adding an aqueous solution of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a hydrophilic polymeric dispersion agent to a petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium in which a hydrophobic polymeric dispersion agent was heat-dispersed or heat-dissolved, under stirring; (B) further performing a secondary dispersion by adding a surfactant to a dispersion liquid obtained after the primary dispersion; and (C) performing the reversed-phase suspension polymerization by using a radical polymerization initiator; and the water-absorbent resin obtained by the method.